My Lists Keep Growing

     

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom through Pixel.com

     I'm increasingly getting to an anxious state of having so many jobs and not a good system or plan to get them done. October whizzed by, and I was not feeling particularly strong through most of it, so the list in my head just kept growing. I decided I needed to calm myself down and really look at things in the lens of how critical and how time sensitive something is. Those tasks that hit both  the highest levels of importance and have a time window must be prioritized. 

     My kids often say, and I paraphrase, I tend  to tackle too much at one time with a skewed sense of urgency. Then, when it's not completed to my satisfaction, or frankly not completed at all, I get frustrated and more overwhelmed. They see the cycle, the repeat behavior. I go in whirlwind, bathroom renovations, patio, fence, railings, fireplace replacement and so on, but not one of these projects would the average person call complete. The patio and fence might be the exceptions, though because they sit in the over neglected back yard, both projects feel like they fell  flat. 

    Big housing projects aren't the only tasks subject to this cyclone and crash approach. I've got lingering business issues to  complete-life  admin. I got a start on updating my whole legacy plan, after meeting with an attorney, but completing paperwork for her, and things I can do on my own ( saving legal fees per her guidance) are barely started.  

     My list is long and feels like it's getting longer. I'm finally acknowledging that the way I've been tackling the "clutter" in my life has just added more clutter. This brings me back to the start of this post. I must identify, start, and finish the most critical tasks first. For November I'm lifting a few things from that massive list and focusing there.

  • Old document secure destruction- both business materials from my husband that we never should have kept for this long, and personal paperwork 
  • Title transfer of my daughter's car out of husband's name 
  • Getting backsplash tile and an over the toilet shelf unit in the upstairs bathroom. Storage is way too limited and with extra family with pets here during the holiday periods, maximizing space is essential. The wall is at risk of damage without a proper back splash. 
  • Complete the materials on the two legacy actions the lawyer will be preparing for me
  • Get a Transfer Upon Death (TOD) added to my house title
     If those five things are done by the end of November, a path opens to better address the items that are the next level of importance. Not much more will be done in December, with weather changes, family and friend time, and end of year work chaos. Recognizing that as fact hopefully helps manage the anxiousness I feel when I think about that list. While outside will need to wait, I've all winter to assign chunks of actions. 

Comments

  1. Anne in the kitchenNovember 6, 2024 at 7:40 AM

    I am right there with you planning and almost finishing. This sounds like a plan you can accomplish. One of the smartest things I see on your list is getting rid of documents. My father kept everything, and after Mom passed away we had nearly 700 pounds of papers to get rid of. We finally called a mobile shredding company so we could have it done while we watched.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 8, 2024 at 5:48 AM

      I got that tackled yesterday. He came with the shredder truck and in 15 minutes it seemed 33 years of paperwork gone. Though now, I've got 33 boxes to break down. Fortunately there's a card board recycling free bin near us.

      Delete
  2. AprilNovember 8, 2024 at 12:31 PM

    I hear you loud and clear, Sam; I am still clearing away mountains of papers from when Dad moved into Assisted Living and we cleaned his house and property out so we could sell the house. THAT part is all done (cleaning, sale of house) but I still am surrounded by stacks of files--and that is AFTER going through a lot of them and having a lot of it shredded! And my "stuff" (files, papers) piles up because I am dealing with my father's messes (and hospitalizations). Sigh. What I am trying to do (and reminding myself it does work for me) is write down 3-4 tasks a day that I "have to" get done, and making sure those get checked off. As for the clutter, I am setting a timer in 15 minute intervals and then walk away or on to something else when it goes off. Otherwise, I am just overwhelmed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 10, 2024 at 3:26 AM

      I'm glad the shredding job is done. I have an office size one I can use for myself going forward as needed.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousNovember 9, 2024 at 8:03 AM

    There’s quite a bit of things, big and small I’ve been neglecting. I have the best intentions and know what needs done but my wonky schedule and low energy just zap any motivation I have. I am convinced that no one has their lives together and everyone is in the same state of constant disarray. Then they beat themselves up about it and feel worse. This whole adulthood thing is a sham. JoAnn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 10, 2024 at 3:25 AM

      My sister got all of us funny t-shirts last summer. I'd have to pull it out for exact wording, but that's essentially what mine said. Adulting is a full time job.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousNovember 10, 2024 at 9:27 AM

    I find that breaking lists into concrete tasks like that just helps them be less overwhelming. Rather than, "deal with DH's estate tasks", you've broken them into a list of things that you can tackle one by one, which will hopefully be easier to manage. As I'm not working, I've cleared off almost all of my life admin tasks (although, deep cleaning the house is never something I will willingly do), but I still find myself resisting many days. (Hawaii Planner)

    ReplyDelete

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