100 Tasks Part 2

Not Quite What I Expected

If you recall the article I wrote titled, "100 Tasks in 100 Days," I was gung-ho about checking off tasks of a very ambitious and expansive list to put me in a happier place. I started creating this list on November 5^th - which means in 100 days, all of my tasks need to be completed by February 14^th but after about five days into the list, I started freaking out, because, as we all know, "time flies" and I was beginning to think that perhaps I bit off more than I can chew.

It is now day 24, and in pursuing this challenge I'm beginning to realize that I didn't fully calculate all the variables that would arise. For example, my strategy was to cross of one item a day and work on three others. It sounded great in theory, but actually I have found that working on four tasks a day spreads my time way too thin! In fact by the end of the day (and sometimes in the middle) I can't tell which way is up. I find myself fighting the feeling of being overwhelmed and pushing past the anxiety of not knowing what to do next. Obviously I need to change my strategy, right? The goal is no longer to cross of an item a day, but to focus on one main task, while briefly working on two others. We'll see how this new strategy works out.

Also, I didn't realize how much I hesitate. I say hesitate and not procrastinate, because rather than simply putting things off, what I do is dwell on the thought of doing something. Even the easy stuff seems to require an exorbitant amount of thought before I move into action. Not only is it for the tasks on the list, but regular everyday life things as well: I think about going to the bathroom, rather than just getting up to go. When I'm hungry, there's a whole train of thought that precedes my opening the frig. It's crazy, I know. I'm working on it.

One delightful little discovery I found to be positive though, is that when I'm upset, be it angry, frustrated or sad, the list gives me an outlet to channel my energy. And it's not like I'm lacking in variety, I have a plethora of tasks to choose from.