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To-do lists are overwhelming and depressing. 1 trick to fix that.

By Becky McCray

Photo by Becky McCray.

To-do lists can be overwhelming. They can put too many demands on you, too many deadlines. You’re not the only person who feels this way.

My friend Rob Hatch told me about a friend of his who felt just like this. He hated to-do lists because they made him feel much too pressured, like they were all negative things pressing on him.

So he decided to put some positive things on his to-do list.

He put “have lunch” on his list. Then he could look forward to lunch, enjoy it and check it off.
He put “have a beer” on his list. And he did. And he enjoyed it and checked it off.

To-do lists are a lot less depressing and overwhelming when you only put 6 things and when you make sure at least 2 are things you already want to do.

If you feel the same way about to-do lists, what are two things you like to do that you could put on your list today?

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

January 25, 2016 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, organization, Small Biz 100

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Comments

  1. Rich McCormack says

    January 26, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    1. Make my wife smile.
    2. Have a beer after #5.

    • Becky McCray says

      January 27, 2016 at 10:12 am

      Great list!

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