{"id":1445,"date":"2020-02-19T11:38:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T11:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/?p=1445"},"modified":"2021-04-04T20:55:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T20:55:05","slug":"does-the-idea-of-an-empty-to-do-list-scare-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2020\/02\/19\/does-the-idea-of-an-empty-to-do-list-scare-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Does the Idea of an Empty To-Do List Scare You?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why is it that we squirm every chance we have a few free moments or even hours? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It feels so natural to fill every waking moment in, checking off all the boxes of our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We fill out to-do lists with tasks over and over because those free 5, 10, 15, or 30 minutes between meetings, phone calls, kids, and appointments make us feel unproductive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel you \u2013 an empty to-do list scares me too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means there\u2019s nothing to do. And what\u2019s scarier than that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But nothing to do isn\u2019t a reality; there are\u00a0always\u00a0<\/em>things to do.\u00a0Why not spend those few minutes reflecting, journaling, meditating, or taking a walk?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re at a lack for what to do when you\u2019ve finished it all (and congratulations for that, girlfriend), follow these three simple ways for making the most of that empty to-do list of yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Ways to Make More of Your Empty To-Do List<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Do what you want to, not what you have to.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When we are so focused on all the things we have<\/em> to do, we lose sight of the things we want <\/em>to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stop and think about it: do you put off certain activities or fun in order to deal with other things? Of course you do. You\u2019re a go-getter and an amazing human being. You\u2019re built for doing all the things you have to do, and sadly that means you forget about what you want to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re left with all your \u201cmust-do\u2019s\u201d checked off, think back to what you\u00a0want<\/em>. Is it to take a walk on the beach? Or go out with your husband for a date? Take the kids on a weekend adventure, just for fun? Whatever your heart calls you to do, do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Spend time self loving, not self distracting.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I recently had a wake up call to the difference between self love and distraction. I thought I was giving myself love by vegging out in front of the TV (no joke, this is a form of self love). But for me, it\u2019s actually much more of a distraction, which is a horse of a different color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be clear with yourself about what constitutes self love and what constitutes distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, there\u2019s a confusion \u2013 yet distinction \u2013 when technology involves. In the short-term, it feels good to have a mindless Netflix binge. After? It feels like shit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, self love for me includes: a bubble bath, a great yoga session, an amazing conversation with a loved one or soul sister, baby or puppy snuggles, or seeing a theater or Broadway show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n