Retirement, moving, starting a business, house renovation it’s a lot and quite overwhelming. This unprecedented change I currently find myself going through has created a lot of angst and worry. The biggest fear for me is that I am going to miss some important step in any of these processes that could have significant financial or legal ramifications. So, I’ve turned to making lists.
There are the lists of all the big things that need to be accomplished, the overarching matters that take extended time and have many steps to accomplishment. Then there are the lists of the myriad of small tasks that need to get done on the daily, or within a couple of days. The sheer number of these tasks is definitely overwhelming, however jotting them down can help to prioritize, show progress, and create a sense of accomplishment.
I’ve written, in the past, about the importance of keeping changes small to manage, focus and increase the chances of success. Managing my lists of larger to smaller things is the same concept. Writing down doable daily tasks pulls the focus of the large overwhelming nature of life, to things that can be done in the moment. This helps put aside the worry of failure and instead allows a focus on success when there is progress with the daily goals. As I then review the daily lists I see stair steps in progress towards the overall large tasks.
Although there is still much to do, this process has helped calm and refocus my efforts allowing me to put my energy into actual progress rather than worry. And I will say I have also grown to enjoy crossing things off my lists when they get done.