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Daily Must Do's

I am a list maker. Whether it's for the grocery store, chores, or work-related items to tackle for the day, I make a list to make sure nothing is forgotten or overlooked or--gasp!--not attended to.

Along with this, there are certain daily habits I aim to cultivate. Things or actions that are important to me and that I want to make sure get done every single day on top of whatever might be on the list of the moment. The problem is, there are only so many hours in the day, I appear to have a limited amount of willpower upon which to call, and the list keeps growing.

For example, my current list of "daily must do's" reads as follows:

  • Meditate
  • Morning pages - handwrite 3 pages about anything first thing in the morning.
  • 8 Minute Workout - This is weight training from George Cruz's book by the same title. I'm trying to get myself into the habit of working with weights now, so that when my running schedule picks up again, the habit is fully formed.
  • Write 1,000 new words EACH & EVERY DAY on a new YA novel I'm working on.  The "each and every day" part must be stressed or else I'll do the "I'll write my 1,000 words tomorrow" trick and suddenly it's Friday and I owe myself 7,000 words!
  • Stretch. Especially that right hamstring which still appears to be tightening instead of loosening.
  • Drink 8 glasses of water (or thereabouts).
  • Play with cats.

The almost daily activities include:

  • Run - 5x/week
  • Yoga - Would prefer 3x/week, but I've been doing two.
  • Cook - 4x/week

There is more I'd like to add to the weekly list, such as a certain amount of time to spent outdoors, reading, focusing on marketing work, straightening the house, connecting with family/friends, etc.

When I look at my main list, it doesn't look bad at all. It's only 2-3 hours, depending on how long the 1,000 words take. So it just shouldn't be that hard to fit in. But somehow when I add in e-mail and work and runs and showering and phone calls and errands... things get set to the side.

I'm not really complaining. I love my life and the freedom that comes with it. That's probably part of my problem. I know I have "all day" to get stuff done and time just slips away. Plus, there is the teeniest-tiniest chance that I may be too regimented in my approach to life. (But just a tiny chance...)

What about you all? Any "must do's" on your daily list?

Posted on Monday, May 26, 2008 at 08:39AM by Registered CommenterDena Harris in , , | Comments4 Comments

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Reader Comments (4)

I tried once to add up the time required for all the must dos, from the simple things (shower, brush, floss) to the more time-consuming (shop, cook, clean, run the pets to the vet) to the heinous (exercise, eat right). The list got so long (on top of 10-hour work days) and I got so depressed, I went and took a nap, vowing never to try that exercise again. *grin*
May 26, 2008 at 10:15AM | Unregistered CommenterBernie
No. Beyond the general, hygiene-related ones, I never have much success with any such mandatory, daily expectations. But I, like you, think I'm gonna' accomplish some things in that arena one day VERY soon. Am impressed with your list, though. And thinking how much further along I am now that I can just copy and paste yours and start from there. Thanks pal!
May 26, 2008 at 01:51PM | Unregistered CommenterMelody
How about just enjoy each day and all the new opportunities it offers...and let the rest take care of itself. If "stop and smell the roses" is on the top of your list the rest will happen as needed. Love you!
May 27, 2008 at 03:53PM | Unregistered CommenterMom
Stop and smell the roses??? What sort of drug-induced hippie advice is that??? (Just kidding! Still a little tense...)
May 27, 2008 at 04:07PM | Unregistered CommenterDena

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