How often do these thoughts cross your mind?

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• “I’ve got to do that.”

• “I must do this.”

• “I cannot go to bed before this is complete.”

• “There’s not enough time in the day.”

• “I’m so tired.”

• “There’s never an end to it all.”

• “I never feel complete at the end of my day.”

• “Where does the day go?”

• “What’s it all for anyway?”

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Do-aholism: The Endless Cycle of Doing

 

Many of us are "do-aholics"—like alcoholics, but instead of alcohol, we’re addicted to tasks. We’re task-aholics. We’re do-more-more-more-aholics.

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You're a Bad Manager... for Yourself

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When it comes to managing our own lives, many of us act like poor managers. We expect and demand far more from ourselves than is realistically achievable—and then berate ourselves for not getting it all done.

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In our own lives, we must fulfill two distinct roles: the doer and the manager. Yet, many of us do a poor job of managing, believing that good management means making endless, unachievable to-do lists.

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Becoming a Great Manager and Planner for Yourself

Let me suggest that the primary job of the manager is to set the week up, to set the day up so that the doer can win at least 95 percent of the time. And, by winning, I mean that, at the end of the day, you can look back, as both the doer and manager, and say, “I got everything done on the list and even did a few extra items!”

 

The job of the manager is to realistically look at how long it will likely take to accomplish the different tasks,

and to include in the planning enough buffer for breakdowns and even make room to take advantage of currently unseen opportunities that may arise.

 

The manager will most likely need to choose courage to say, “No, I will not do this today” or “No, I will not include this in my life” or even, "I will cancel my commitment to do that."

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Life is a Buffet, Not a Marathon

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Life is like a super-duper buffet—you can only enjoy what comfortably fits on your fixed 168-hour-per-week plate. For every "yes" you say, you must say "no" a thousand times, either to yourself or others. If you're not willing to say "no," you end up sabotaging your previous commitments and potential opportunities.

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A good "manager" will happily accept and work with the limitations of what his or her "doer" can do

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The job of the manager is to set things up so that the doer can win and enjoy the process!

 

Do you consistently set aside time for your "manager and planner," an expression of your Next, to set up your year, to set up your week, to set up your day so that your “doer,” an expression of your Now, can win?

 

If not, put a structure in place to do that now.

 

Honor yourself for the courage that you choose to say "no" to yourself and others so that all of you can win.

 

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