minding what matters & Letting go of the to-dos
2024…
Week 1: Stomach bug takes over our home. Puke all over me for a week straight (and not usually my own).
Week 2: Big Yiayia falls down. After lots of pain, she ends up getting surgery on her back and is now in live-in rehab.
Week 3: Today is a start to a new week. We got through the last two weeks and thankfully all has ended well so far. Nonetheless, you can imagine that the past two weeks is not what I imagined for the start to a new year!
Big Yiayia, Yiayia, and the girls opening Christmas presents from Big Yiayia.
As a self-proclaimed recovering productivity-fiend, I’m sharing this because even through all the puking and worrying about my grandmother, I had to stop and remind myself to mind what matters the most. That sounds crazy, right? But, we don’t often realize how our to-do lists can control our thoughts and feelings. For me, I learned a while back that I was conditioned to feel valued when I got things done. Unlearning that deep-rooted life lesson and redefining productivity for myself has been a work in progress. As a coach, I have come to understand that I am not alone, as this is something that comes up in discussion with almost every single one of my clients.
Ever drive to and from work and realize once you get to your destination you don’t really know what you saw on the drive? Or even more embarrassing to admit, you’re “listening” to someone share a story but you’re so deep in thought you don’t know what they said! The times that our heads are in the clouds are not always related to our to-do lists, but more times than not, they are. We have all been there, and fortunately, there are actions we can take to let go of the to-do list and mind what matters the most.
5 Steps to Minding What Matters the Most
Notice when you get absorbed by “the list.” No need to judge yourself for it—just simply notice.
Bring yourself back to the present. Take a mindful moment to notice what’s going on around you using your five senses. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel? Taste?
Remind yourself of what truly matters to you. What do you value the most? If you get value out of feeling productive, consider redefining productivity for yourself. Are you giving the things that really matter to you the attention you really want to give them? If not, take even just a minute or two to put your attention, energy, and time toward what matters.
When you reflect on what’s pulling you away from the present, consider what’s in your control vs. what’s not in your control (and if you like to live in the gray add a “somewhat in your control” category). Once you determine what’s NOT in your control, let those things go. P.S. More on “control” in the next blog post.
Practice, practice, practice. Shifting your mindset and your actions takes time. Grant yourself grace as you embark on creating a healthy change for yourself. Remember, “A journey of a thousand miles takes a single step.” -Lao Tzu
[Pre-stomach bug] New Years celebration with Big Yiayia and Yiayia with apple juice and traditional Greek vasilopita.
The photos I’m sharing are of some of the recent moments our girls were able to spend with Big Yiayia. I know they are uniquely fortunate to have a great grandmother in their lives—let alone one who is 102 years old and still fairly healthy! How blessed am I to witness the relationships between my girls, my parents, and my Yiayia—let alone have all of these amazing people in my own life?
My to-do list will always be around with items unchecked. It’s up to me to let that go, continue to redefine what productivity means to me, and mind what matters the most.
I can’t wait to hear your stories—about letting your to-do lists go when needed, how your 2024 has started, and how I can continue to walk by your side on the journey of living a life recentered. Happy New Year, my friends!
