I know a few things about the to-do list in your day planner this week.
I know you have a bunch of things to do that involve taking care of your house, your car, your dog, and/or your child.
I also know you do your job, whether that job is outside or inside your home, paid or unpaid. You have responsibilities and you wake up every morning and you fulfill those responsibilities.
Whether you go to work or stay home with your kid(s), whether or not you have a partner who shares the day-to-day responsibilities, you are exhausted at the end of the day…and there are always items on the to-do list that don’t get done.
I have a suggestion that may change the way you look at your to-do list.
My suggestion is this: Be fiercely protective of your happiness.
How you spend your days is how you spend your life. I want you to consider, just for a moment, putting things on your daily to-do list that make you happy.
I even want to suggest that among all the people and things you take care of in your life, that perhaps you ought to come first on that list.
For me, it looks like this:
• Getting to the gym most days — my sanity depends on it.
• Seeing friends, whether for a walk or a coffee or dinner and drinks, every week.
• Nourishing myself with healthy, delicious foods, beautiful music, good books, and deep connections with my kids.
So on my to-do list, my workouts come first. Seeing my friends is an item on my to-do list too.
Your to-do list doesn’t have to be solely a list of dreaded chores or “have-to-do’s.” You can make it a list of things you want to do to fiercely protect your happiness.
Your kids learn by example. You want happy kids, a happy family. Step one is making yourself happy. By doing so, you give everyone in your life permission to do the same.
What would taking care of yourself — putting yourself on your to-do list — look like for you?