What’s something you can NOT do today that will simplify your life?
Daily | October 21st, 2008
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Carrie says: Not be responsive to other people’s discomfort. To be aware and sensitive and yet not absorb their stuff would give me freedom and power throughout the day.
Danielle says: Rather than shopping for, and wrapping, and mailing a birthday gift, I’m emailing a friend a music play list for his birthday. Easy breezy.
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October 21st, 2008 at 12:40 am
I can't walk well since I twisted my ankle; so I'm go to stay in bed with my foot up and read a book that I've been looking forward to reading (it's Nelson DeMille's THE GOLD COAST and next week the sequel is coming out.)
October 21st, 2008 at 4:23 am
Worry about tomorrow…..
October 21st, 2008 at 4:27 am
i'm wondering how you email a playlist….
October 21st, 2008 at 4:59 am
Not worry about what's unimportant.
Not answer the telephone if I don't feel like answering it.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:15 am
NOT get caught up in all the things I'm not doing right now. Focus on what I do well and accomplishing the most pressing tasks.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:35 am
i can not answer my cell every time it rings and just because it rings. back in the day, we weren't always able to get ahold of each other. i don't need to feel obligated to be attached to my phone.
i'll let people leave messages today (except from my husband : )
October 21st, 2008 at 5:38 am
Not being there when my new fridge is delivered. My husband offered to work from Home during that 'time window' to be there when it shows up. So now I don't have to worry about being there when the front door has to be taken off to fit the fridge etc (too stressful)…I've removed myself from that situation. Now I get to come home to a fridge not from 1980 with my first ice-maker ever.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:51 am
I am not going to try and be in two places at one time!
October 21st, 2008 at 6:19 am
Sitting down and contemplating my next steps. I can not find “my” time today that i desperately need.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:33 am
I am NOT going to Swiffer my hardwood floors. The cleaning lady comes tomorrow and I need to get out of here in a few minutes, so I'm letting that chore go. I'd like to do that more often but I have control issues…
)
October 21st, 2008 at 6:42 am
-Absorb negativity or perceived negativity
-Overthink the menu that I'm preparing for my friends tonight and just know that they want to come and be with me, not the food. As my mom says, “KISS – keep it simple, stupid.”
- Try to take on too much
October 21st, 2008 at 6:54 am
I left my iPhone at home this morning…
I am leaving work at three o'clock this afternoon; I am going to go home and leave the cares of the world outside.
~Ramona
October 21st, 2008 at 6:55 am
Not dilulte my energy by working on too many tasks at once. I'm a super duper multit-tasker but I'm observing that I like the experience of more focus and the experience of completion.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:04 am
I'm not going to try and add more work to my schedule. Instead, I'm going to go out this afternoon and heal myself by looking at Mother Nature's changing leaves, and breath in the cool crisp mountain air.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:05 am
Work. I'm playing hooky (although not really, it's just slow today and I'm not going to spend it feeling like I 'should' be productive). I'm gonna surf the web, and read, and write a bit, and try not to overdose on coffee….
October 21st, 2008 at 7:16 am
NOT feel compelled to answer every single email as it arrives in my inbox. I am trying to stick to my resolution of answering email only twice a day, despite the fact that my work requires me to be 'wired' in a serious way. I find answering emails all the time to be extremely stressful and a constant pressure, and a big drain on energy and genuine productivity.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:29 am
I haven't the time or resources to deal the RIGHT way with this cold I've caught, so I'm going to allow myself some Day Quil, coffee, and Mountain Dew and ignore the guilt. It's a formula I know can get me through the day.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:36 am
NOT play solitaire on my laptop!
October 21st, 2008 at 8:05 am
check email every 5 minutes
October 21st, 2008 at 8:08 am
Ditto to this! Sometimes I'm being “super productive” with several things … but not truly participating any of them as though almost on auto-pilot. So yes, experience more focus and savor the process of the task (and not just the completion).
October 21st, 2008 at 8:14 am
Ditto to this as well! My work also seems to “require” multiple checks (I'm glad to say I HAVE turned off the darn auto-check) … and when some (unexpected, “urgent”) request plops in from my biggest client, suddenly I either shift what I was doing to do her bidding (and get off track with the day's agenda/schedule) *or* — and sometimes this is worse — I spend so much energy THINKING about, oh dear, I HAVE to get that done ASAP. Yes, checking e-mails can be exactly as you described!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:29 am
not get hopped up over the dog, the kid, schedules, and being “on time”. I am on time. Exactly as I am!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Nothing, my life couldn't be more simple at the moment.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:31 am
Today I can not squeeze in 3 more things right before I leave for the meeting.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:52 am
Today, I can
* not check my e-mail
* not discuss politics
* not discuss the possibility of an earthquake
* not discuss the possibility of a financial collapse….
* not forget to get on the floor with my toddler and giggle a lot
ahhh, I feel better already.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:55 am
I can do a shorter workout today that will allow me more time before I work to pack for my trip to Calgary and save me some stress tomorrow!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:09 am
me too
October 21st, 2008 at 10:11 am
I KNOW!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:52 am
I'm not going to pretend that I'm not sick – I'm going to leave work early, reschedule my volunteer night, eat some soup and go to bed early.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
I cannot WORRY about this Child & Adolescent midterm today…..so I will be at PEACE!
I don't have group therapy class today….so I can rest/relax/watch tv/nap
I can't do anything about my 6 month review today…..Yes, I've been in my new Research position for 6 months today…..woo hoo….let's CELEBRATE!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Procrastinate. I've already been doing it today, but I can stop right now!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I can not feel pressured to fill every moment of my day with over-achievement and instead choose to journal or think about what I'm grateful for.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I can not look at my iPhone when I'm supposed to be playing with my daughter.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Carrie, my therapist has an awesome phrase for “Not be[ing] responsive to other people’s discomfort,” which I have posted on the wall beside my monitor: Compassionate detachment. In the same vein, today I did NOT cave to a guilt trip!
October 21st, 2008 at 1:16 pm
telecommute
October 21st, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Not obsess over those last ten pregnancy pounds I need to lose……it really makes it impossible to get dressed in the morning and feel good about myself throughout the day. Not good, not good!
October 21st, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I can NOT go to soccer practice with my 5 year old son and let his Dad take him instead. An extra hour is coming my way…for yoga and puttering. Ahhh…
October 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Clean out the evil corner cupboard in my kitchen with water bottles, snack containers and mason jars. It's completely out of control, things tumble out at will and finding what I need makes me bonkers. I have been putting it on my to do list for weeks and have neglected it. http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
October 21st, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Thanks Suzyn, wonderful wisdom.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Amen to Carrie's thoughts. I have been under a lot of stress lately, and I am realizing that not responding to other people who are wanting me to be their source of support with their own stress would take a lot of pressure off of me. I am trying to be positive in this difficult time, and if I take care of myself and do what I need to do to be ok, I am far more likely to be a good coach and resource to others, than if I feel I have to take on everyone else's difficulty as my own.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Thank you for being a good example about #s 1, 2, and 4, which have been major stress bombs for me lately. We all need to know when to say no to these things, and I appreciate your mentioning them. I will try to say no more often!
October 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I can not think about tomorrow…..only today….OK, that's not happenin….I can not respond to, “You're the meanest Mom in the World!!!!!”……I may even say thank you.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Not checking e-mail constantly at work and worse, not responding to every single e-mail the moment it arrives.
Proud to say I have steadfastedly refused to be a slave to my cell phone for several years not but the e-mail thingie got me good.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:03 pm
wear makeup and high heels
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 am
Not worry about the un-essential.
November 15th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I will NOT look around my house and become overwhelmed by all the things that I feel need to be done, allowing my to enjoy my son and my husband, the sunshine, the day's full potential of FUN!