TO DO LIST

Do you have a daily to do list? I know a lot of people who do and spend their mornings making a list of to do's for the day. It is certainly an effective way to manage your day and it sure does feel good when you check the box, giving you a sense of accomplishment. 

I have never kept a daily to do list. I know this is something that I need to work on. At work, I have been at the same position for many, many years so for me its all in my head. Heck, I can do my work with my eyes closed at this point. I used to keep a to do list when my tasks drastically increased due to someone leaving in the company. But not any more. I know what  I have to do, when and I get it done. 

Now, I am not very good at writing and thinking all of the things I have to do. I know a to do list works for a lot of people especially if you have a lot of tasks at work or home that you need to accomplish.

I have seen my husband keep a list of to do's or when he is done with something he will say something like, now I can cross it off my list. I am sure it makes you feel good. I keep a list of things that I need to do for household related stuff and also a running grocery list. That works for me. 

How is your list working out for you? How does it make you feel? Now that I am older, I feel like maybe I should give it try keeping a list of everything. My memory is not as sharp so it may be helpful.

The problem with me is that I tend to also keep a list in my brain. Every morning, I mentally go through all the things I need to do. For example, I am planning on taking vacation next week so my to do's this week at work are a lot. I keep a note mentally of all the things I need to do and I go through them one at a time. Once it is done at the end of the day,I mentally cross off all the things I did do.. I know, not very efficient, however, it still makes me feel good. 

What's even better is during the few times that I have actually taken a few minutes and wrote all the things of things I need to do and actually crossed it off. The list that I did create was not just a long list of things with everything on it but a "necessary list" or what I call my "must get done list". For me it is a more efficient way to manage my time and I find that getting through the "must do" does not overwhelm me since the list is comparatively smaller.

If you are like me and just don't like a book of to do's, then start with a must do list. Start small and if you find that you can manage the list, go ahead add on a "nice to do " list. I will certainly try that myself.  

What I do have and keep up to date is a list of activities, appointments on a calendar, especially for my kids. I get reminders throughout the day but that is how we manage their activities. It works and it helps. I use the calendar for certain reminders for myself as well. I just can't somehow have a book of to do's.

At my work, there is someone who keeps a book just for the to do's. This person is at a director level position, has more responsibilities and therefore, it makes sense. Even if I had a long list of responsibilities daily, I still can't picture myself owning a book for just to do's related to work. But you may know that a lot of that is because of the way I feel about my job. 

I don't know why making an everything list is such a daunting task for me.  What will help me is prioritizing  the list so you do the most important task at hand first and then the easier ones later, hence the must do and nice to do list. It makes sense to have a list rather than trying to juggle it all around your head and think what's next.  

Make sure your not driving yourself crazy trying to do it all that its gets to a point where you are mentally and physically exhausted from the list. The point to have a list is to help you manage your daily to do's but also know that everything may not be crossed of at the end and that is okay too. If you have 10 items on the list and you only accomplish 5 or less, that's okay. If you find yourself mid way through the list and you are just tired or feel like you can't do it anymore or need to be somewhere else, then go do just that.

I also find that if you are like me and keep everything mentally is exhausting. You have to set a mental reminder to do the things and it can drain your energy. Plus when you write it down once you are done for the day and can go back to reference the list as opposed to trying to mentally think whats next. 

It can be very encouraging and motivating as well to see that you got things done. It is also very productive, especially useful whether you are at a job or home and have tons of things to do or follow up on. One of the biggest benefit I see here is managing time better. I find especially with household related stuff and with the kids, it helps me to manage the limited amount of hours I have in in the morning before  and after work. There are only 24 hours in the day and if I had a list of 20 items, then for me it will be almost impossible to get it all done. My time with my kids, connecting with them, chatting and playing with them takes priority over any nice to get done list.

Now sure we have to do laundry, get dinner on the table, get groceries but all that is part of life. I don't keep a list of that but I know I have to get it done and squeeze it in between my time with the kids and my work. I get them involved to so we still doing the things we need to and having our time together. It'a all about organizing and focusing with the tasks. Strategize a plan as you are writing that list to help you navigate your day.

The one thing I would do if I had a list, is never to use the list from the day before for the things that are left undone. I don't want to be killing myself and sacrifice my mental and physical health, just so I can cross tasks off from the day before. So if I had stuff leftover from the day over, I would still start fresh and go from there. I don't want to be one of those people who ends up staying late at work and coming home carrying that list around just to make sure I do it all. You can't do it all so delegate if you need to.

You only get so many hours in a day so make the most efficient use of it. Manage your time well and list it all out if that helps. It keeps things in check and you won't feel overwhelmed with the 20 to do's. More importantly check in with yourself and be realistic. Don't have an unrealistic list just because you see your friends doing it all or the neighbors who seems to never leave anything unchecked on a list. I am sure there are books out there that help with organizing your life which may be useful. Pick one up and have a plan for yourself.

As for me, I will work towards getting better with my must do first and my list for the future. It will help to have a list to plan out my future and my kids as well. My long term list that is. What are the things that I still need to do and places to visit. We all know that life is short so keeping a list and working towards getting things done will help me achieve my goals, both short and long.

Do what feels right for you and listen to your heart ALWAYS!!! 

Wish you love my friends!

Peace,

Monita

TRY YOUR BEST

I have this motto in my life,  "try your best". Its giving and being my best in everything, every single day. I truly feel like everybody always does their best. No matter what we are all trying our best. Some days we don't even have to think about it but there are always other days when we really don't feel like trying to give or be at our best. 

Whether I am setting personal goals, trying to achieve my goals or conquering my fears or just going about doing whatever life throws at me, I will always try my best. I feel no matter whatever life has thrown our way, be it big obstacles or small ones, we are all doing the best we can to cope. Can we try harder and do better, absolutely.

When I try my best in everything, I know that I have given it my all even in times when I don't feel like doing my best. I don't expect anything in return just because I have given or tried my best. I just do my best and let the rest go. It's important not to expect anything in return especially if you are doing your best but maybe someone else is not even trying. 

I have been trying to loose 15 pounds for the last 2 months and whenever I step on the scale, my weight has been the same. I know the scale in probably not a good measure since I may have put on more muscle. I do feel good and strong though but I still do need to lose some fat. So I try my best to make sure that I do everything right between eating right and exercising and I am sure with time, the weight will come off. 

Doing my best is showing up at the gym every morning at 5:15a.m, however, I can try harder at my workouts and push harder as well. I feel maybe my best in the gym has been borderline. 

I try my best to even be a better parent every single day, every hour and minute. When I wake up in the morning, I started saying to myself that no matter what I will try my best. Yesterday I was not at my best when my kids did not eat well for lunch so today I decided that if they do not eat well again, I will take a different approach. Instead of letting it get to me, I will speak and educate them about eating right and well everyday for their growing brains and bodies. 

I always tell my kids, just try your best, do the hard work and prepare for your school, put in your best effort for your homework and don't worry about anything else. It's important for them to know that just because homework is not mandatory that does not mean they should not try to do their best. They should always learn to put the best effort in everything and not worry about the rest. That comes on its own.

The "try my best" approach is towards every role that I have, as a wife, a daughter, sister, friend and even co worker. The hard part is when I am not having a good day, or not had good sleep , then my other "tired self" takes over and tries to beat down the "try my best self". The challenge then is to remind myself that no matter what or how I am feeling, I will do my best in everything.

Normally if the person or situation I am dealing with is challenging it's always harder to still try to do your best in being the better person but if you can keep reminding yourself and  work with the situation or person and your emotions, then it does tend to make it easier and sometimes dissolve the problem altogether. 

I feel like since you give it your best, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You are more in control and at the end, you will have fewer regrets, if any because you know that you have done everything in your power to control the situation or remedy it. One can only control oneself and you can't control others in their reaction or the way they are.

The only thing that I can do or anyone can do is their best are we are. We have to remind ourselves that we are all trying. Even if you are on in a job that you don't love, or a relationship that's having issues, try your best to do everything in your power to do the right thing for you. It's a lot easier said than done since we as humans, tend to do things that may please others, or let our emotions get the better of us. But try your best my friends.

Coming back to my weight loss issues, I know that I have been overeating and my metabolism has really slowed down as I get older.but that's not to say that I should give up altogether. Maybe it will take a lot longer, but try my best I will. That's all anyone of us can do. 

No matter how ever many times, you have had your heart broken or dealing with weight issues or anything that life throws us, we must continue to feed our soul and we feed it and take care of it but always trying our best. Don't worry about the end results, that will come when it does. If you stay stuck on the result, you will lose out on the way. If I remained stuck on the 15 pounds, I will lose my focus on the other benefits I get on the way like feeling healthier and stronger. 

Lately, I have not been meditating as I used to. Not that I did much before but I used to give it a try for 5-10 mins everyday. It's important to me, so now I am going to try my best to find the 5-10 mins to meditate. Given its important to me, making that effort is not going to be difficulty.

I always need to remind myself that the only thing within my control is me and that is good enough to always want to try my best in everything. It's all in the amount of effort you put in everything and if you do, the rewards will come by itself. I have faith that it will. I will give my best effort to be the best mom to my kids, the best effort in all of my everyday roles. 

Remember don't get stuck. If you are stuck anywhere in your life, try your best to get out. That may mean taking any number of difficult or not difficult steps but don't just remain there. 

Whatever the outcome will be, the effort will always pay off. It may not be immediate but your soul will thank you for this, knowing that you tried your best.

Always here to cheer your best self friends. Keep moving on!! 

Wish you love my friends!!!

Peace,

Monita