From Yoda to Nike, Mother Teresa to Martina McBride, people have expounded on the need to “do it anyway.”
Are you a procrastinator? Do you put off the biggest challenge? Do you delay the start of something that you could begin now? In Brian Tracy’s book Eat That Frog, he explains the importance at the start of the day to identify the most onerous task that must be accomplished, doing it and moving on. How liberating! Once done, I’m totally free to move forward in a positive way.
Having done that, I need to select the most important tasks that remain. By doing these first when I’m fresh and more resolved, I have a better chance of staying focused and on-task. As the day progresses, other “stuff” tends to creep onto my list and pull my attention in another direction.
This sounds so simple. So why don’t I approach every day in just this way? Could it be that I’m more interested in checking off as many things as possible on my to-do list than I am in accomplishing the mission-critical things that have a higher priority? Maybe I haven’t even bothered to prioritize the list. James Clear discusses this at length in Atomic Habits.
Being productive isn’t about getting the most things checked off the list. It’s about getting the most important things done. Don’t try to stampede through a long list of low-importance items. Focus on making steady progress in key goals with significant impact. Otherwise, if you’re like me at times, you may find at the end of the day that you’ve crossed off a whole bunch of things that didn’t matter much and still have “the biggie” needing your attention. I really like finishing what I start. I don’t enjoy the tension and stress of a halfway-done project.
Another area of concern is how much time I spend on someone else’s agenda. Have I learned to react to someone else’s priorities as if they were more important than my own? Sometimes they are, but often they are not. Of course, I do have responsibilities as a parent, child, friend, student, teacher, employee and citizen. Yet, I need time and space in my days to respond to my own agenda. Not to allow myself this time minimizes my self-worth. I may not always succeed; things may not turn out exactly as I hoped. However, I owe it to myself to give my best effort. If I never try, I’ll never know.
I Care, Barb
By Pat Schoenen April 9, 2022
As Leader of our TOPS Group these last two years I found the most important thing for me as a leader is to LISTEN. While reading five of the blogs, I could identify myself immediately to each article. At our next meeting I will be handing out at random, one article to each Member to read and asking them if they would like to share a thought or two from that particular article? What an excellent way to show encouragement realizing that while we all are in the same place to lose weight our feelings may be in another room needing attention. Thank you so much!
By Phyllis Morris October 27, 2021
this blog reminds me of a little booklet called “The Tyranny of the Urgent”. The booklet describes how we get bogged down by the little things and forget to do the most important things. We need to do both, but we have to set priorities. That can be hard but well worth it for ourselves and for others.
thanks for this fresh look, Barb
By Diane October 23, 2021
Thank you Barb! After being raised in a home of 3 generation TOPS members and now the only 1 left, I find it hard to stay on track. This is something I’m going to do. God bless
By Ruth Singer October 19, 2021
Thank you Barb I have procrastinated about renewing my passport that i LOST AND HAVE ALMOST COMPLETED ALL THE PAPER WORK
Thank you Barb for your timely blog I have been procrastinating about completing the forms for a new passport I sat down yesterday and almost all of the paperwork is completed What a good feeling
Thanks to you and my TOPS friends I will get back on track and loose the extra weight that I have put on Our Canadian Thanksgiving has done a number on me Keep the Blogs coming
Ruth
By Gina September 30, 2021
Thanks Barb. Great blog
By Lillian Forand September 30, 2021
I’m going to read this everyday. It is what I needed right now. It gives me inspiration to do things NOW and not at the very last minute which has been my life lately. Thank you so very much for your article Barb.
By Barb Maas September 19, 2021
Thanks for the reinforced thoughts here. I recently decided to begin taking 1 day a week quietly taking care of my needs/interests. Catch up on health/nutrition articles, make notes, research new health info, body care, wardrobe evaluation, pleasure reading, learning features on my new Bernina sewing machine…me time in the form of stopping to read & learn things which is something I truly enjoy doing. Perhaps its a day of mindful thinking? What you just wrote validated my decision to do this so I’m very grateful you shared this with us. As usual…your timing is perfect & your topic is so very ‘on target’.
By Kathleen West September 24, 2021
Barb, What a wonderful idea.
By Tamson Darland September 13, 2021
Effort is so important. Thank you Barb for great article. So uplifting and motivatng.