To-Do Lists

Does your to-do list have its own to-do list?

If that question resonates, you're not alone. We start each day with lists for our work, our health, our families, and the unspoken chores that just have to get done. It's an endless cycle, and we wear our busyness like a badge of honor. We've been conditioned to believe that constant motion is the only path to success.

Yet, deep down, we know this isn't true. Decades of research prove that we need downtime for mental and physical well-being. Still, we persist, pushing ourselves until we're on the verge of collapse. We're constantly flirting with burnout.

This need to "do it all" follows us everywhere. Even on vacation, we can't fully relax because we're on a tight schedule to see all the sights, take in all the culture, and pack in every activity. Instead of a rejuvenating break, it becomes another marathon (pun intended).

So, if we know that rest and relaxation are crucial, why do we resist them? Is it a need to prove something to ourselves or to others? Is it guilt? Is it a deep-seated fear that if we slow down, we'll lose our value?

Finding Freedom in the White Space

When we talk about the endless hustle and our need to do it all, even at the expense of our health, it can be useful to dig into the why behind that need. And while everyone's reasons for this mindset are unique, there are practical ways to combat it, even if you don't know the root cause.

One of my favorite and most effective strategies is to create white space on my calendar.

When I first started doing this, it felt scary. I would schedule 30-minute "holds" for myself before and after every meeting. I worried that a client would need that exact time slot or that someone would question why my calendar was full of these empty appointments. The fear was real.

But what I found was astonishing: I became more effective.

By putting fewer appointments on my schedule, I actually got more done than when my calendar was packed back to back. That 30 minutes before a meeting gave me time to prepare, to get my thoughts in order, and to mentally center myself. It made my conversations more meaningful because I was focused and present.

Just as importantly, the time after the meeting allowed me to act on my notes immediately. I could send the follow-up email, jot down key tasks, and set the next appointment while the conversation was still fresh in my mind. This saved me from having to later decipher messy notes and recall details, which is a huge drain on mental energy.

The Power of Boundaries

White space on my calendar has become one of my favorite ways to create boundaries to protect my energy. It's a small but powerful act of saying "no" to the world so I can say "yes" to myself.

I invite you to think about where you're trying to "do it all" this week. Is it at work, at home, with your health, or all of the above?