The Power of the To-Do List

I don't know where I would be without my to-list and neither does Andy Murray it would seem.  For those of you who haven't read about it this week, a photographer got his hands on Andy Murray's to-do list which consisted of 10 motivational 'notes to self' for his game. This made me smile and made me happy that I have something in common with a sportsperson. That has never happened before and is perhaps the only time I will have something in common with a sportsperson.

I know you may be thinking this is a really boring topic for a blog post, but stay with me - I really feel that my weekly to-do list keeps me on the straight and narrow and helps me tick off each task I want, and need, to accomplish each week.  It's a great motivation and once you get into the swing of it, it becomes a little ritual for a Sunday night, and the ticking off part is the best bit.  I'm not afraid to admit that I sometimes realise I've done a task which I hadn't actually written on my list so I'll write it on my list so I can then tick it off.  I know this is extremely sad but it's so satisfying.  I know I'm not the only one who does this...!!

So what's on my to-do list? Well at the moment my spare time has to be planned very carefully and I have to make sure I'm not going off piste too often.  The to-do list itself is from Lollipop which was given to me by one of my best friends who is also an organisation-aholic.  I keep my list on the kitchen table, in sight, so I can tick off as I go along throughout the week. I divide my time into categories; my life-coaching (currently speaking to lots of volunteer clients each week), my wedding planning (currently planning my wedding), exercise (the bit I hate but just need to tick off what I manage to get round to doing so that I can give myself a pat on the back - if it wasn't on the list it wouldn't happen).  Then there's the 'other' category which is everything else - contacting friends, making social plans, buying cards and gifts for people, doing the shopping, cleaning, washing etc etc.

I know from past experience from the dark days (AKA the pre to-do list days) that all the things I needed to get done could so easily end up going onto my mental to-do list for the next day, and then for the next week, and then just never getting done. It's the 'I'll do it tomorrow' feeling that we're all familiar with. 

As I'm spending time each week with volunteer clients and researching plans for my eventual business I'm getting closer to my overall goal of running my own business.  My to-do list keeps me focused, allows me the chance to evaluate where I'm at each week and what steps I need to prioritise.

It's so easy to get overwhelmed with big tasks and this is certainly true of planning a wedding.  As an example, when I first got engaged I wasn't sleeping well as my mind was buzzing with ideas and the sheer massiveness of the task ahead and all the things we'd need to do to make the wedding happen.  After the initial hysteria (good hysteria I mean) eased I was able to sit down and, with the help of an Excel spread sheet, do my master to-do list.  I revert back to this every week or so and see where I'm at and what can go for the wedding to-do list for that week.  I find that if I have a big task in front of me, which has the potential to be overwhelming, the best approach is to break it down, prioritise and have a biro to hand at all times, to tick off as I go.

Boring or not, I wanted to do a little post on my trusty to-do list because it fits in really well with a philosophy I try to live my life by, which is that when we have a goal it's always good to break it down into little goals or steps and as we achieve each little step we are that bit closer to our overall end goal.  Andy Murray puts "be good to yourself" at the top of his to-do list and I'm with him on this one - be good to yourself and celebrate your daily accomplishments, no matter how small, because you so easily could have not bothered to do that task, but you did and that has got you a little closer to your goal.

Self Esteem and TV Screens

I was brought up to believe the glass is half full.  I have lots of memories of my mum singing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ to me and my sister as children, which probably accounts for my relatively sunny disposition.  My mum used to talk to us a lot about the power of the mind – mind over matter and all that - so I’ve always had an interest in this kind of thing.

One weekend when I was 14 and well and truly in the awkward phase (braces, pre-GHD frizzy hair, spots) my mum took my sister and I to a wellbeing exhibition at a local sports centre.  At the end of the day we attended a talk by Uri Geller – the man who bends spoons, with his mind…

The talk was based on his book ‘Mind Medicine’ and I found the whole thing fascinating, but something which really resonated with me, which I wanted to share with you, was a technique he spoke about which I’ve used ever since (sadly I’m not talking about the spoon bending, though that would be a great party trick).  The technique I’m referring to involves visualising a TV screen (bear with me) and it has done wonders for my self-esteem and helped give me a confidence boost at times when I’ve needed it most.

I’m going to use a personal account to explain the technique.  I went away to a very theatrical boarding school for sixth form.  I was so excited to go there as I loved drama and was really interested in media as well, which the school was very well known for.  From the first day, I felt that all the other girls at the school were far prettier, more talented and generally far superior to me.  Initially I’d really wanted to get involved with the amazing productions the school put on but my self-esteem wasn’t up to much and the other girls were so incredibly confident that I shied away from it all.  Then in my final year I decided I’d go for it and audition for one of the shows.  This audition involved singing in front of loads of my fellow students in the school theatre and that was petrifying.  It makes me feel slightly nauseous thinking of it now, all these years on.

Uri Geller’s technique was very simple – all you had to do was visualise a giant TV screen and imagine yourself in a given scenario on the screen.  In this case, I imagined the TV screen and visualised myself singing the song I’d prepared.  On the TV screen, I was calm and confident and singing well.  I really focused on how I wanted to feel in that moment. This process not only helped with the nerves but also enabled me to really imagine myself doing something that a year earlier would have filled me with dread.   I did the audition and got in the show and loved it. It was a huge boost to my confidence.  The TV screen has helped me through countless other situations such as first days in a new job, interviews, first dates, confrontations, getting through a gruelling work out (that one doesn’t happen often), meeting new people etc.

I can still remember the sense of empowerment I felt after this talk.  I felt really excited and it was a real ‘light bulb’ moment for me.  It was the feeling that, with the power of my mind, I can achieve anything.  It is the perfect kind of tool for me to use, as I’m a daydreamer with a vivid imagination, so it’s something that really works for me.  In an age where we pick up so many pieces of information and advice on a daily basis, it’s rare, I think, to find something that really stays with you like this.  I’ve used this technique ever since the Uri Geller talk and I really hope that if you’ve got this far reading about it, you’ll give it a go.  There are no limits to what your mind can conjure up and no limits to what you can achieve so get visualising and reap the benefits!