Defeated by the Daily Grind

Guest Post Written By Donna Yearyean

Do you ever get to the end of the day and feel like you didn’t get anything done? Whether it was a hard day for you mentally, physically, or both, it’s so disheartening to feel unproductive with that to-do list looming!

I’m a list maker. My husband thinks it’s hilarious that I’ll add something to my to-do list or grocery shopping list AFTER I’ve done the task or already put the item in the cart just so I can cross it off! I get great satisfaction from seeing everything crossed off. However, when it comes to to-do lists, we usually only write down the big stuff and not the “daily grind” things that often take all the energy we have—mental and physical. This is where the “It’s Done!” list comes in.

You can definitely have a to-do list AND an “It’s Done!” list. Your to-do list can be more major things that you need to remind yourself of, and your “It’s Done!” list of smaller things will be very important on the days you’re struggling. As you get things done, write it down! Track it in whatever manner makes sense for your lifestyle and personality—an app, a notebook, a whiteboard, etc. You can title your list however inspires you. Some ideas besides, “It’s Done!”, are: “I Did It!”, “I Conquered…”, “Handled like a Queen”…. What do you want to name your list?

Some days, you are seriously going to write down things like, “got out of bed”, “brushed my hair”, “played a game with my kids”, or “made eye contact with a stranger”. There is no shame in any of those! I can think back to times when I would have written things like, “took my kids to library story time AND said hello to another mom there” or “gave my kid a bath”. Whatever was difficult for you that day—no matter how small—because of the battle you’re fighting with your mental and/or physical health, write it down when you do it or at the end of the day.

Celebrate ALL of your victories!