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Do you work as though everything depended on you? Liz Montigny offers three strategies for taming your to-do list.


Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. - Saint Augustine

 

 

In the past, I wrestled with this concept a bit. Even though I’m a faithful person, supernatural trust and surrender are not easy. For most of my adult life I thought, if I want something to happen, I need to hustle constantly. But that always ended up being the hard way. What’s more reassuring? You’re the only one responsible for all.the.things in your life and business, or you have help?

I have discovered that peace, joy, and achievement can all work together. To put it in the simplest terms, it comes down to how I begin and end my day.

If you’re feeling like you can never rest because your to-do list is too long and for some reason it’s all important, try one or all three of these tools.

 

1. A nightly brain dump.

Get it all out of your head and onto paper, put the list on your nightstand, then get some rest. First thing in the morning, reread your list. Your brain does a lot of repair work at night (have you ever felt like you solved a problem overnight?).

After you’ve read your list with fresh eyes, ask God what He wants you to work on for the day. Then focus on that one thing for the day. This simple but effective tool works because you have the choice to renew your mind and choose your input before your day even begins. Divine intervention helps, too.

 

2. Time block your schedule.

Designate blocks of time on your schedule for family, work, and play and rest.

For me, I have to be disciplined about this because I homeschool one of our three boys. I prioritize homeschooling in the morning and don’t multitask. Once the basics of school time are met, I work. Being in the present moment helps me feel more at peace and be more productive.

 

3. Give your day a theme.

Try focusing on one thing each day. For example, Mondays focus on personal development, Wednesdays only wash towels and sheets, Fridays follow up and catch up from the week. You get the idea.

 

Click to tweet: If you’re feeling like you can never rest because your to-do list is too long and for some reason it’s all important, try these tools. #catholicmom

 

Which method will you try to tame your to-do list so you can create time for rest? Share with us in the comments.

 

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Copyright 2022 Elizabeth Montigny
Images: Canva