Does your to-do list feel like a Sisyphysian boulder?
No matter how hard you push and sweat and grunt, you make no real progress up your mountain of obligations…
The longer you’re at it, the more tired you get—and the closer you creep toward real burnout. (You know, that whole “binge-Netflix-and-ice-cream-because-your-brain-can-no-longer-function” deal?)
If you’re stuck in this place, I have some GREAT news.
When you find yourself resisting a task, really grinding against the things you feel you MUST do—
When you feel a sensation of frustration and mounting exhaustion pervading your brain or physical body—
Consider it a flashing neon sign that says STOP.
PAUSE what you are doing and take a deep breath.
INTERRUPT your “get shit done” impulse. Consciously put it on pause.
CHECK the assumption that if you keep working harder, you’re going to get to the top of the mountain.
When you’re in this place, the way to get more stuff done is NOT to push yourself harder and harder. It’s not “one more hour” or “one last email” or even “let me just finish this sentence…”
The path to greater productivity is actually a different approach altogether.
If beating your head against a wall of to-dos and forging ahead in spite of yourself is your modus operandi, you are not alone.
I spent decades training my “get shit done” muscle as a hard-working student and corporate employee.
I prided myself on being able to look Resistance in the face and punch my way back to productivity.
Like you, I have a handful of go-to tools when I need to get over myself and get back to work.
I set my timer. I book coworking calls. I tell my assistant and colleagues what my goals are and when I plan to complete them.
The trouble is, NONE of these efforts will make me feel like less of a prisoner.
I can’t set myself free from the trap of endless to-do lists by constantly doing more.
And neither can you.
What you CAN do is slow down, tune into your heart, and ask yourself 3 questions:
- What do I need right now (emotionally, physically, mentally)?
- What action step will help me create the kind of internal experience I want?
- If I had the BEST BOSS in the entire world, what would she tell me to do?
Ask the questions and let your inner GPS show you where to go next.
Most of the time, you don’t need to keep pushing at that one task that’s giving you grief.
You probably need a walk, or some water, or a gentle-but-firm mindset reframe.
Your brain may protest the apparent loss of productivity, but remember, your brain got you into this mess in the first place.
By pumping the breaks and looking at your situation from an entirely different perspective, you unlock creative ideas. You rebalance your psychic and physical energy and uncover deep reserves. You find simpler paths to get where you want to go—faster and with less resentment.
By the time your next appointment or task rolls around, you’ll feel great. Reenergized and ready to rock.
Ready to put these questions into practice right now?
Give them a whirl and hit me back in the comments with your breakthrough!
