I want to share a practice with you that I’ve started.
It’s called the what I did list.
Here’s how it goes: at the end of the day, or sometimes before I pick up my son from preK, I write a list of what I’ve done.
It can include what I started, what I dreamt up, or what I had to leave half finished.
It can include roasting vegetables, how I started out the window, or even have a few list about how I felt.
Here’s the kicker. At the end of making this list, I have to tell myself:
And it was enough.
This is a spin-off of an assignment I used to give my clients when they wanted to learn more about time management. There, I’d ask my clients to log what they did every hour they were awake for a few days of their week.
The point of that exercise was to track and acknowledge what you spend your days doing.
The point of my what I did list is to:
- remind you of how much you do
- remind you that not matter how much you do, you’re enough
- document the days and the vibe of your life
I started this practice because I often feel very depleted at the end of the day. And then, from this depleted place and I can forget how many things I’m doing and what a service I’m bringing to the world.
I’m inspired by diaries kept from men and women throughout the ages, where the was more of a documentary attitude to the pages.
This practice also helps me with the desire to scroll social media at night. Instead, I make a quick journal entry to check in with myself.
Here are a few guiding questions, if you want, as you make your what I did list:
What was a favorite part of my day today?
What did I feel like I spent my time doing?
What did I actually spend my time doing?
How do I want to fill my day tomorrow, or the next day?
What do you think? Will you try this practice? If so, please let me know how it works for you.
If you want more guidance on filling your days with the life you want, please contact me or check out my time management consulting work here.
When my children were small and I was homeschooling them, I had my intentions for the year, three months, month, week, day. At the end of the day I would write out what I did, what they did, a few items that they said they learned, and I had a great record of our learning process, as well as a reminder of what I actually did during the day. I would revisit monthly and at the end of the year to see what we learned. I have gotten out of this practice since we are no longer homeschooling, but I think I need to revisit it. It was one of the best things I did to remind myself that I am tired because I actually DO work hard, whether other people understand it or not. ( certain inlaws is what I am thinking here. Can I yell them to shut up and mind their own business in some way that maybe is nicer than that?) Anyway. Thanks for the reminder. I am going to add this to my evening routine.
Glad to know you’ll be adding this to your routine – please let me know how it goes for you!