Start sorting things out where you can
- Karen Wilson: Family Corner
- March 13, 2024
- 600
When you look at your list of things to do, does it look manageable and encouraging or do you start to hear background music that makes the word impossible come to mind?
A few days ago, that’s just what was happening to me. And then a situation added an even bigger list. My head started to spin. But life goes that way sometimes. And, Lord willing, things will get done and situations will get resolved. But standing in the middle and knowing the crazy list you are looking at doesn’t even include everything you need to address can feel incredibly stressful.
So don’t panic. Pray. Breathe. Start sorting things out where you can.
Look at the things with deadlines first. What will happen if you don’t get done by then? Could you live with the consequences if you missed that due date? Is there a possibility of negotiating the deadline?
In college I once wound up with three tests and a speech due all on the same day. There wasn’t any real hope of moving the tests, but I did manage to talk the professor into letting me give the speech one class session later.
Even with big things looming, try to keep up on some of the regular duties of life and other areas of responsibility. Otherwise, you will likely find yourself running from one crisis to another.
Do a load of laundry. Wash the dishes. Wipe off the counter. Sweep. No major cleaning. Just keep up so you don’t have a bigger job later.
Another college example: Even when I had an important test coming up, I would allocate a given amount of time to keep up on my other subjects. It actually refreshed me to look at something else for a bit and kept me from falling behind.
Try to finish tasks completely. Don’t just dump the clean laundry on the bed. Fold it and put it away as you take it out of the dryer. If you get interrupted, you can just close the door. And you can get into bed at night. But try to finish it all. You’ll feel better about it and not have stress when you need to get dressed.
Of course, clean laundry is better than having nothing to wear. So if that’s all you can manage, be happy about it.
Combine tasks where you can. I’m writing parts of this column on my phone while getting in some time on my stationary bike. A couple of days ago, my son and I walked several miles while figuring out some farm projects.
Take a break. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes that’s just what you need. When you look at a situation with fresh eyes, it may work out more simply than you think.
Call in help. If you can find someone to help out with the big things or just cover the everyday stuff for a while, do it.
Concentrate on the things that only you can do.
Good luck to you if you are trying to tackle a big list. You are not alone.