What on earth are you doing?

It's a question I am happy to answer

As someone who is known as a do’er—there have been plenty of days where I have had 80+ tasks on my to-do list and knocked those pins down like a robot—it’s not surprising that the first thing people ask me regarding my radical act of rest is, “What on earth are you doing?”

Shifting to a lower gear can be both wonderful and confusing. I have anchored the questions of what to do—and also what not to do—to systems that feel comforting and satisfying, but in a looser, less urgent style. 

It’s been pretty freaking fun.

I started by setting up a project in Todoist (my to-do app) called “🦄 Slow Gear Month! 🦄” and I have diverted from my usual project planning in two ways.

First, while I usually prefer using Todoist in “list” mode, for slow gear month I wanted to use “board” mode, perhaps because I had originally thought of tacking up post-its on a wall. I set up categories for Personal, Kids, Holiday, and Professional and have populated the lists as I think of things on the fly (more on that in a second).

Second, unless something is date/time sensitive, such as a social engagement, I am NOT assigning due dates. Since I have less time-sensitive items on my regular to-do lists over the next four weeks, I just want to be able to look at the board and see what feels fun or inspiring to tackle as I go. 

Also, it’s worth mentioning that even though I love starting creative projects, I am not setting goals or building anything new. I just want to care for what’s in front of me right now.

It’s like I’m disrupting the Goal Porn industry. LOL.

Anyhow, people seem to like the nitty gritty from me so I thought I would share a few examples of things from my “🦄 Slow Gear Month! 🦄” board. Four categories emerged as I was thinking about these tasks and how extra space makes them all feel doable:

#1 Small, satisfying tasks that often get punted down the to-do list when life is too busy

• Hem a pair of pajamas I have tripped on dozens of times; here’s a helpful tutorial on how to hem pants while leaving the finished edge intact

• Break down LEGO sets for donation and regifting 

• Declutter/organize the bathroom closet that erupts with ratty old towels every time I open the door

#2 Adulting that isn’t technically hard but feels impossible when life is too busy

• Switch our family wireless plan; seriously, this would feel IMPOSSIBLE during a regular working period

• Find a notary and coordinate a time to sign Laurel’s power of attorney documents

#3 Bigger tasks that are fulfilling but feel hard to fit in when life is too busy

• Longer-range planning for Edit Your Life; if you listen to the show, I would love your feedback and topic/guest recommendations via this survey 

• Respond to Edit Your Life listeners; people write the most touching, vulnerable letters to me and it pains me when I don’t have time to sit down and respond

• Revamp my website, including building out a page for my consulting work, which shockingly does not already exist

#4 Super joyful things that I don’t sink into as fully or struggle to prioritize when life is too busy

• Scheduling social engagements (walks, coffee, lunch) with loved ones

• Baking obscene amounts of holiday cookies to share with neighbors

• Making fire starters

• Taking the time to sit and at the library and peruse book options

• Food preparation and recipe experimentation 

I am not taking a single moment of this month for granted. I have worked my ass off to make it happen and I know that it is a privilege to do it. 

🦄 I hope you have a wonderful, restful holiday with time to sink into and enjoy the little things. 🦄