One Balanced Life

to prevent from functioning in a normal way: she was incapacitated by her to-do list.

If you catch a glimpse of your list and experience a sense of overwhelm, I offer the following tip:

Break your list down into the following categories:
1. Emails
2. Calls
3. Projects

Tackle the "quickies" like the emails and phone calls. These are the items which make our lists feel like they are 3 miles long. And really they are the quickest to tick off. You've probably heard me chat about clearing the clutter, apply that logic here. And I promise you will feel so incredibly productive when you are done. Now that you've freed up some energy, you can direct your attention to the bigger items which generally take more time and mental gymnastics.

P.S. Please share any tips you have for dealing with overwhelm.

P.P.S. And yes, I do the above almost daily as I often find myself staring at my to-do list or re-writing it hoping some items will just do themselves.

Somehow I've given off the impression that I am a highly-organized person and with some tasks I am. With others, my husband would surely say not so much!  I tend to be spontaneous so I always have to a have a little flexibility. I am slightly envious of those people who follow the same routine on a regular basis (i.e. the gym on M, W, F and date night on Saturday). I am more of a "wake up in the morning and see how I feel" kinda person. But owning my own business and becoming a mother have forced me to approach life a little differently. I've need to adapt and become more structured. Becoming organized has been about creating systems that support my lifestyle and personality.

I've been asked a few times recently about what system I use to manage email and my response is none! It is the one of the areas I feel overwhelmed by but since it has come up and since I recently blew of a request for a meeting I've decided to address it. It occurred to me after a group last night, where we focused on present moment awareness, that my issue is really about failing to be present. I tend to bring my computer down from my office, plop it on the kitchen counter and begin multitasking...pouring cereal, checking email, wiping faces, and getting out the door. And well we all know how this story ends - responses that don't get sent, ones that are forgotten about, and ones sent without being proofed (gasp)!

So my NEW (simple) system is to leave my computer in my office and only check emails when I can be fully present to address them.

I'll let you know how it goes and hope it helps some of you who were looking for some help!