Catching up is hard to do. Adding yesterday’s to-do items to today’s list is asking for trouble. Especially knowing there will be unexpected tasks to add as well.

Stop trying to catch up on your to-do list.

If you didn’t get something done yesterday, what makes you think you’ll get it done today?

What’s different today? Probably nothing. Or if there’s something different, it’s not necessarily better. Or maybe it is, I could be wrong about that.

I’m not trying to de-motivate you. I’m trying to help you (and myself) be realistic and stop beating ourselves up for not being perfectly caught up every single day!

How many times have you looked at your to-do list and moved several items to the next day? As you’re doing it you feel defeated, overwhelmed, a bit of a failure.

The current day’s list is now twice as long. And somehow you believe you’ll crank out those actions with super human capability. But probably not.

Why not try a different approach: start from where you are now.

You can’t change yesterday, but you can learn from it

Taking just a few minutes (not too much time) and ask yourself:

• Why didn’t I get that one important thing done?

• Were my expectations reasonable?

• Was the task too difficult?

• Do I need help?

With this added clarity, start right now – from wherever you are in your day or in your to-do list.

What’s the best use of your time today, right now?

What one thing, that if you got done today, would make the most difference?

What one thing would bring you fulfillment, happiness, or whatever it is you desire?

What one thing would bring you closer to achieving your goals?

Do that.

Stop trying to catch up

Stop trying to speed up

Start doing that one thing really well. That one thing that’s in front of you, that needs your attention, that will make a difference in your life and business. Do that.

Then stop. 

Stop and recognize the success of doing that one thing.

Now with your uplifted mood and sense of accomplishment, find the next thing to do in the same way.

One thing. Then another.

There will always be more, don’t worry. 

You can be brilliant from anywhere. Start with one thing.