How Do You Measure A Successful Day?

Every have so much to do that you don’t do anything? You could do any of a million different things. Maybe you even have a lot of things you are supposed to be doing. But, too much is. . .well, it’s too much.

Most days are like that for people with anxiety.

The way most compbat it. The way I combat it is lists. Maybe it’s the ADHD combined with the anxiety. All I know is that lists help me not only organize my thoughts and tasks, but it helps me move when I’m stuck and don’t want to move.

That’s easy to say. It’s easy to write. It’s sometimes hard to do. Because among those million of things that you have to do, the list that is too much, is the task of “Write a list.”

It’s ironic because I know that if I will write a list, I’ll be able to get stuff done and make progress. But, anxiety can be ironic that way. Not only does the list help organize my thoughts and tasks, there’s also something therapeutic about checking items off the list.

On days I do manage a list, I can do amazing things. Saturday was one of those days.

Fortunately there were no work emergencies. And I had no other commitments. No appointments, no kid’s activities. I had the whole day to devote to the ‘honey do” list, except my honey didn’t make the list. I did.

Here’s what my list looked like.

Most of it’s in shorthand. I did the following:

• Textured a bathroom wall
• Built a brace for the kitchen sink pluming
• Installed a carbon monoxide monitor
• Repaired the doorbell
• Tinted the windows in my garage
• Hung curtains in the garage window
• Had my son install a new doorknob on a bedroom
• Rescheduled appointments for next since I’ll be out of town (piano tuning, windshield replacement, therapy
• Installed new interior door handles in my car
• Replaced the lights in the garage
• Worked on wood working projects for Christmas
• Bought a bunch of supplies for the next honey do list

I also listened to the Astros beat the Yankees to advance to the World Series. Then, I watched unranked BYU beat thirteenth ranked Boise State in college football.

I didn’t get everything on my list done. I still have car repairs that are undone. I need to schedule a dentist, and eye exams. I didn’t get all my projects completed. And that’s the thing, I never get everything done.

The difference is that while there is always stuff left to do, without a list there’s a lot more stuff left to do. On days like Saturday, I feel like I can conquer the world.

I just have to make sure I start with a list.

Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.

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