Not Your Average To-Do List

I love creating to-do lists, and each day I go through the same process. First, I map out my “top three” for the day - if I accomplish these three things, I’ll feel satisfied. I then create the longer list - all the little (and sometimes, not so little) things I want to do. It adds up fast, and as a (trying to recover!) perfectionist, I often feel disappointed in myself when I don’t check off all the boxes. 

We should never tie our impact, self-worth, or success/failure to a to-do list, but for some of us - we just do. So I imagined: what if we started each day by creating a to-be list. What if, on any given day, we wrote out the three most important values we want to uphold? It could change everything - not only our ability to accomplish the most important things each day - but how how we show up in the world, as our most intentional, authentic, best selves.

So, what does this look like in practice? I have now tried it a few times, and let me tell you - it is a powerful practice. As an example, late last week I wrote down these three words on my to-be list: relaxed, confident, productive.

Then, I began to map out my to-do list and schedule for the day. I wanted to be relaxed, so I put a yoga class in the top three. I wanted to feel confident, so another top three task? I read a chapter of a new leadership book. And productive? I time blocked four pomodoro sessions to focus on really important work projects that had been getting me stuck. 

When we first focus on who we need to be, and then, what we need to do, it allows us to move through the world - and our days - more intentionally.

So I ask you to consider: what is on YOUR to-be list today? And how will those qualities allow you to move seamlessly through the things you need to do? I encourage you to pause, reflect, and try it out.