I have this tendency to judge myself harshly for “not doing enough.”
So far today — and it’s only noon — I’ve made coffee, breakfast, washed dishes, deep cleaned the counters and bathroom, drafted a document, walked the dog. And still, there’s that voice in my head that says: YOU’RE NOT DOING ENOUGH!
Well, Mr. Voice, thank you for your contribution, but I don’t need to believe you. I have this journal that asks the question: what are 3 things you want to get done today that will make you feel accomplished?
I like this question because it helps me set reasonable expectations for what I can get done in a single day. I can write down the things I’ve accomplished. When I hit 3, then it’s time to kick it.
Also, I recently discovered a practice called “Circles of Care” that goes through multiple areas of life: body, home, work, help, relationships.
Mr. Voice doesn’t give me “credit” for cleaning, for taking a nap, for nourishing my body with healthy food, or for nourishing my relationships with quality time. This practice is an antidote to the voice.
Yesterday, I didn’t sleep well, so I didn’t give myself any pressure to get things done from my to-do list. But I did bring the dog and cat to the vet, co-listen to a history podcast with my partner, help cook a delicious dinner, have tea over zoom with good friends, dealt with a stressful work situation, and did my work responsibilities. Mr. Voice would say I got nothing done. Now I see that this is very narrow perspective. Yes, I got nothing done from my to-do list. But I got a lot of things done from other “circles of care.”
danscreativeoulet 