Exchange your To Do List for a DID List

 (Originally published 7 February 2011)

If you're feeling overwhelmed and you can't seem to accomplish much, you might try something I came up with after my mom died, and I was looking at a house full of 30 years worth of packrat accumulation--while grieving this sudden, unexpected loss.

I've never been a big one for To Do lists, and at that time it was just too depressing and immobilizing to try to write down everything that had to be done. Even in less extreme situations, no matter how many items have been checked off or crossed out, my attention always seems to focus on what hasn't been done yet. And I have a tendency to beat myself up over what I "failed to do."

So all those years ago I created my first DID list. Everything I accomplished—every subscription I cancelled, every phone call I made—was written down on a numbered list. So even though every room bulged with projects waiting to be tackled, I could (and often did) look at my notebook and the pages of completed items listed there, and I knew I was making progress. It made it easier for me to keep going, because I was focusing on my achievements.

I've mentioned this tool to several friends in the last couple of days. Since they seemed pretty excited at the prospect of making their own, I thought I'd put it out there for anyone to use. Just one more way to acknowledge your successes and squelch those negative voices.

Blessed Be, Amanda

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