Let's Stop Saying I Should
Yesterday, I finished up an afternoon workout. Jasper was on the couch watching a movie, and Ellis still had sleep in her eyes from just waking up from her nap. My brain felt clear from the movement of my body for a moment.
The moment lasted only that…a quick fleeting moment before I started rambling in my head all the things I should be doing. I should have been spending one on one time with Jasper. I should be more intentional with the time I have with my kids. I should fold that laundry sitting in the middle of my living room. I should dust and sweep this room. I should start cooking early so it’s not so chaotic this afternoon. I should have just sat and read outside. I should have responded to those texts already. Oh, and the emails.
Then a thought pierced through and stopped the spinning wheel of should’s in my head. “You are wearing yourself out with what you should be doing long before you actually do anything.”
Is this as true for you as it is for me? I have been exhausted the past few weeks. The type of exhaustion where you wake up and still don’t feel ready to tackle the day. I have blamed it on our summer schedule, late nights and full days. This could very much have something to do with it, but I have a feeling my “should’s” might be more of the culprit.
Why do we do this to ourselves? For me, I don’t think what I do is ever quite enough. I can always do a better job, do more, get more done off of the list. There is always more that I want to do. I want to do all things every day when in reality I can only choose a few things each day.
What do I do to refocus myself when I recognize that I am starting to say should a lot? Here is what I am learning to do.
Recognize it. This is so huge! Recognizing it is half the battle.
Ask myself what ACTUALLY really NEEDS to be done today? Usually most of my should’s can wait.
Slim down my list of to do’s to the bare minimum, and see everything else that gets done as extra. (This is so freeing for me.)
Here is the to do list that I am going to be trying to keep my focus on until I can clear my mind again. Every day - Read the Bible. Spend time in prayer. Move. (Doesn’t necessarily have to be a workout, but I need to move) Drink plenty of water. Create something.
Everything else that I get done in a day is bonus. What a relief! It also usually blows my mind how much more I can accomplish when I am doing these simple things to keep my mind healthy and clear. On the days that I truly only accomplish what is on my slim downed list, I am not disappointed in myself one bit, and I can enjoy these simple moments in life with my family without my brain still spinning. That is freedom!
What would be on your slim downed to do list?
