Let’s normalize having really long todo lists and NOT doing 99% of them without feeling guilty or unproductive.

In our fast-paced, productivity-driven world, it’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough. We’re encouraged to make to-do lists, set goals, and track our progress. But what happens when we don’t accomplish everything on our lists? Do we feel guilty? Unproductive? The truth is, having a long to-do list and not completing everything on it is perfectly normal.

We often set unrealistic expectations for ourselves and our productivity. We forget that we’re human and that life is unpredictable. Unexpected events, interruptions, and emergencies can throw off our plans, and that’s okay. We shouldn’t beat ourselves up for not being able to do everything we set out to do.

Instead of focusing on what we didn’t accomplish, let’s celebrate what we did. Even if we only completed one thing on our to-do list, that’s still progress. We should also reflect on the tasks we didn’t complete and consider whether they were truly important or necessary. Perhaps some tasks can be postponed, delegated, or even eliminated altogether.

Let’s shift our mindset from one of guilt and unproductivity to one of self-compassion and flexibility. A long to-do list doesn’t define our worth or success. It’s simply a tool to help us organize our tasks and prioritize our time. Let’s use it as such and not feel burdened by it.