Commitments to family, work, household management, friends (is self-care in there anywhere??) There may be a lot of competition for the task to do first, but you're going to have to hold off tackling those dust bunnies for just a bit if you’re going to achieve a true Spark Joy Lifestyle. Today I’m going to talk about the highest priority – KonMari Your To-Do List first.
The process includes:
1. Clearing
2. Prioritizing
3. Scheduling
Clearing: Ideas, tasks, chores, and obligations can sometimes clutter your mind and feel like fruit flies swarming and multiplying at an alarming rate– it can really make your head spin. So, to stop the vertigo, empty what’s on your mind onto a sheet of paper. Write everything down that you want, need, or have to do. Everything. Empty your brain.
The best time to do this is on a Monday morning (but right now is just fine if you’re ready!) Your list can include anything from meeting up with an old friend to dealing with that landslide of papers on your desk.
List everything from fun-to-do, to not-so-fun-to-do, to downright ugh. The point is to get it out of your head and on to the paper. It’s hard to decide if something brings joy when you look at it by itself. Seeing all your to-do's at once helps you prioritize your list in the same way that the seeing all of your clothing or books all at once does.
Prioritizing: This is where you look at each item on your comprehensive list, joy-check it, and prioritize it. The tasks left on your list should support your ideal lifestyle. Not all of them will be exciting. For example, if scheduling a mammogram is on the list, it may be there not because you look forward to it, but because it supports your commitment to health and taking care of yourself. If an item doesn’t spark joy, cross it off. You may choose not to attend that meetup, skip the school fundraiser this time, or decline that wedding invitation. There's no joy in being stressed out and pressed for time because of an activity that is optional.
Another special trick for identifying what sparks joy is to begin with the items closest to your heart. Why? Because that’s where you feel joy - in your heart, literally in your chest, not in your head. It could be your family, a special cause you support, or something you really want to do. Slide your finger down the list and see how your body responds when you read each item. Don’t worry if you’re not good at this at first. With practice you hone your sense of joy and each time you do it becomes easier.
Next, prioritize the list by when it needs to get done first. Be realistic, rushing around all stressed out does not spark joy. What are the most important things, the less critical, the ones that are not urgent?
Scheduling: Next, make a plan, then transfer everything to your calendar. Giving each task a date and putting it on the calendar is like folding your clothing and putting it all away. The secret to getting things done and staying calm is scheduling. Schedule days off - free time - and days to get things done. Then schedule the tasks and things you need to do.
So if Saturday’s list is phone calls from 9 am to 10 am, try to finish within that hour. Maybe the next item is to power wash the patio furniture, followed by grocery shopping 3 pm to 4 pm, and getting ready for dinner with friends at 5 pm. When everything is on the calendar, throw away the to-do list. Don’t worry, you’ll be making it over again next Monday morning.This process energizes you because you’re honoring yourself. You’re showing respect– no more rushing around.
Anything that you can’t get started, break it down into smaller steps, the same way that you would break down clothing into smaller steps/categories, such as blouses, sweaters, skirts, scarves, accessories, etc. For example, if you have offered to make quiche for tomorrow’s brunch, 1. Find a recipe, 2. Check your pantry for the ingredients, 3. Make a shopping list, 4. Take out the pie plate, rolling pin, whisk, etc. Break down the steps for any large tasks or jobs on your schedule.
There will be a lot on your calendar. But you’ve now thought all this through. Resist the urge to start repainting a chair or watching a Netflix show to avoid doing what you have planned to do. You’ve decided to live a deliberate life of intention, not a reactive life. You honor your future self when you plan your life like this. Every decision you make about what you do gets you one step closer to your ideal lifestyle. Before you know it the window washers have come and gone, the patio is ready for guests, the winter coats and boots are cleaned and stowed for the fall, and all the expired sunscreen has been replaced with a fresh supply. The only thing that will be left to do is to relax, enjoy, and appreciate the life you have created for yourself and those you love.