Saying ‘No’ to Overworking: Embracing Lists for Self-Care and Productivity

Does anyone else rely on lists to give them a bit of structure to their day? I am a big fan of lists, especially when life seems so overwhelming and when there are new routines. Whenever I start to feel like I’m falling behind and that the to-dos are piling up, I sit down and I make a list or two. Just the act of writing it all down and seeing it on paper seems to calm the anxiety that starts to rear up when I am feeling behind.

I am feeling those behind feelings now so I sat down first thing to make a list.

Number 1 on my list is to stop agreeing to go to work on my days off. I am starting to realize with my limited energy, working extra days is really slowing down my progress here as I find I need more time to rest and recover physically. And this is discouraging and makes me feel lazy. Which makes that horrible unhealed critical voice that was instilled in me by being raised by a narcissist to chime in. One one hand, I really need the money. On the other hand, it takes a good deal of gas money to get to work and back and to buy meals to eat while at work. I could be trying to earn money on my days off in other ways- selling things, working on the art I haven’t touched since I had to flee. Working on the homestead garden and fixing up the greenhouse and getting fall seedlings started. All of which I have had absolutely no energy to do.

Part of me is too much of a “yes” person. Someone askes and I say yes.

I need to stop that. I need to say “No” and work on my homestead lists.

After this week is over, I will no longer agree to come in extra hours. If that disappoints the people in charge, they will just have to get over it. There is more to life then making a corporation richer and having little to show for it. I don’t even get the proper breaks at work that I am scheduled. I could be working to rebuild my little homestead business in the mean time and have more to show for my efforts- that is not making the rich richer and keeping the blood sweat and tears of my labor for myself and loved ones instead. For now, I have no choice but to work for the man, but eventually I hope that I can divest myself of that.