The Un-Do List

Recently, through her Fierce Entrepreneurs page, Lynnette Embree posted an article about unsubscribing from email lists and how freeing it was.  That got me thinking that my To-do list is extra long this time of year. I still have all the work To-dos, plus coordinating the holidays: gifts, shipping, meals, cooking, parties, calendar, etc. What if I created an Un-do list instead of a long To-do list?  This would remind me of what I am intentionally NOT doing this holiday season.

I sat down, turned on Christmas music, and got to work. It wasn't a long list and included things such as:

1. I will not attend standard events this month to focus on holiday gatherings. The idea is that instead of adding holiday gatherings to the calendar, I will replace a standard event with a holiday event. For example, I attend a monthly networking party. This month, I declined and was able to 'replace' that event with a Christmas concert with my neighbors. 

2. To focus on our commitment to supporting the environment, I will send all gifts to the recipient, even if that means they're not wrapped in traditional holiday paper. 

3. To focus on my commitment of rest and renewal, I will only prepare holiday dishes that require minimal time in the kitchen this holiday season. 

You get the idea. 

I found this exercise to be effective for several reasons:

1. Prioritization - this exercise crystalized my priorities for the holiday season.

2. Preventing Burnout/Reducing Overwhelm - I can't do everything. And that is OK. Consciously managing my capacity prevents an overloaded calendar!

3. Learning to Say No - I found it easier to decline and say no when the reason was right before me. 

4. Mindfulness - the clarity of decision-making for this list has carried into my day-to-day, allowing me to stick to my goals and priorities. 

What do you think about an Un-Do list? Want to give it a try? Do you need help managing capacity and priorities and caring for what you care about? Reach out to Starr Leadership Group today!