Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho: Does the to-do list ever end? Is it possible to master the never ending to-do list?

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. That makes it hard to plan the day. –E.B. White

Have you seen the runaway alarm clock? Emitting a random pattern of beeps and flashes, this personable alarm clock rolls away and hides when I hit the snooze button.

Battery-operated, made from shatter-resistant materials, and mounted on two rubber wheels, it bounces down from the nightstand, navigating over wood or carpet floors to wedge deep into corners so I have to get up, seek it out, and slap it silly. I mean, shut it off. This is the ultimate wake-up call for those of us who would prefer to get up at the crack of noon.

Some days I can’t wait to get up. Other days I’d rather hide under the covers until reality goes away. Because reality is there is so much waiting, I wonder if I can master the to-do list.

After raising five children on her own and managing three businesses, my friend and mentor suggested I title a book, What To Do When You’re Doing It Alone. “Face it,” Saundra said, “if anything’s gonna get done, it’s because we do it.”

Like the psalmist, I say, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?” (Psalm 121:1).

When I feel like I don’t have time to take on another project, I devote just 15 minutes per day to that item. At the end of five days, I have invested over an hour in progress on that goal.

I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.   –Edward Everett Hale

Most writers must hold down a day job. These passionate or zany people don’t have the time they wish to write but it is common for a writer to get up early or stay up an extra hour to devote themselves to their craft. At the end of a week, a writer who spends an hour per day at the keyboard has seven hours of work completed. Successful writers such as Jerry Jenkins, author of the Left Behind series, the novelized seasons of The Chosen, and a hundred other books, admit they probably got more consistent writing done when they had to carve an hour from the front or end of the day while maintaining a regular nine-to-five job. I wrote my first book between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.

I’m learning to keep my eye on the prize. What do I most want to accomplish? Then, each day, set a doable goal around that focus and do that task first. If I must make a phone call, I make that call prior to making other calls.

Becoming the head of my household meant I had to give myself permission to value my time and my worth. When I was married, I served as support to my husband. I gave my time and effort to support his work, his goals, and his schedule. It took me years to realize I could, indeed had to give myself the same importance. Until I did, I made no significant progress financially or career-wise because I continued to put everyone else’s projects before my own.

The secret priorities of productive people are focus and commitment. Successful people target the important above the urgent, giving the important precedence over the other emergencies that clamor for our time and attention.

• Before going to bed, one friend lists three priorities for the following day. She does those items first and consistently makes measurable gains on her goals.
• At the start of each week, she maps out what is important for that week including rest and playtime with her children.
• Each month and each year, she schedules the priority events on the calendar.

When asked to do something, another friend always responds, “I’ll pray about it and get back to you.” What a good idea. She has a policy of praying and waiting at least 24 hours before taking on a new obligation. Surprisingly, there have been significant incidents when she was positive she would not accept a responsibility but during prayer God impressed on her that she was exactly the right person for the project. Similarly, praying first has shown her to bypass several tasks she would have automatically taken on.

There is no benefit to being rigid or controlled by a calendar. But there is freedom in planning ahead for important dates balanced by adequate rest. This protects our schedule from becoming a burden that steals our peace. We safeguard our time with our children. We protect our financial and career goals. Additionally, we know when saying yes aligns with our lifestyle and when to say no.

By scheduling in time for work, children, managing finances, home maintenance, and social engagements, we master the to do list and shield ourselves from taking on more than we can fit in. Have you ever taken on more than is possible to accomplish? Me neither.

It is tempting to dash hither and thither when pressures build and we are overdue to master the to-do list. Being busy gives a false sense of importance. Instead, carving moments to schedule and plan pays valuable dividends toward worthy goals. Keeping the priority list in sight helps evaluate what activities are essential to our family values and which ones may be good but are side tracks.

For those good activities that do not fit, one friend says, “Not for right now.”

Certainly there is more to do than I can get to. But I don’t have to do it all at once. My priorities include:

• Time connecting with the Lord
• Mothering my children
• Relationships before things
• Consistent progress in my career
• Regular attention to the finances and home maintenance

Many responsibilities are seasonal. Master the to-do list by shifting out tasks not needed in the present. Mowing and weeding, raking and shoveling are seasonal. My friend who sews clothes for her children sets aside a week in the summer to stitch school clothes and a week before Christmas to make gifts. A friend who bakes, makes enough on one day to last for the week. Several women prepare and freeze a month’s worth of favorite meals on one day, freeing up time daily for other demands. Paying bills on only one or two days per month keeps the finances simple. Grouping errands conserves time and effort.

It doesn’t have to be hard. Embrace easy. When exhaustion dogs our heels, serve a cozy dinner of soup, sandwiches, and hot fudge sundaes by candlelight.

Let others help you master the to-do list. Accept offers of help. I made a rotating list of tasks I needed help with and then when someone asked, I had a ready answer. When friends dropped by, I quickly glanced at the list and asked for assistance with a lingering project. Develop systems that ease the schedules for others by offering to share carpooling responsibilities. For projects that are too big to tackle alone, build a Bible study or support group who assist each other.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  –Matthew 6:28–33

Decluttering is the secret ingredient of a peaceful home. Ongoing decluttering reduces maintenance and guarantees I have less to weed through when searching for something. Less is more. Less is simpler. For me, the hardest part of decluttering is deciding what to keep and what to pass on. I am more effective when I’m angry, so that’s a positive way to channel my emotions. Ironically, after I give something away or sell it, I think about how I could use it now. Maybe there’s medication for that.

Hoarding is bondage. It is difficult to live life when we have to wade through piles of stuff. Since most of it is never used, the stuff goes to ruin while we are tripping over it.

After years of barely having enough to get by, my friend saved everything. As she grew to trust the Lord to provide for her and to trust herself to make good decisions, she dove into decluttering the stacks of stuff she had sought security in. “The stuff in my shed had all decomposed,” she reported. “I was embarrassed when I took a trailerful to the dump.”

At its core, holding on to too many things often is fear-based, and trusting in my ability to provide for myself rather than trusting in God as my source, protector, and provision. Certainly, it is wise to stock up on basic necessities. This is recommended as a precaution for any emergency from terrorism to natural disasters to a sudden influx of relatives or a teenager with friends in tow. Friends who found themselves unemployed for months at a time were thankful for a well-stocked pantry and the six months of income they had banked.

We declutter our living spaces by putting those hoarded possessions back into circulation. Have a garage sale, put it on eBay, or donate to a local charity.

Serenity is found in simple, clean living spaces for you and your family. The world can be cruel and chaotic. As makers of the home, we have the ability to create an environment free of unkind words. Free of harsh noises. We master the to-do list with a comfortable calendar, organized living spaces, and gentle words. Our homes become a haven where our family returns for rest and refreshment. A welcoming place crafted by you.

Where there is room in the heart
there is room in the home. –Needlepoint wisdom

Look Back

What tasks around the home can you do yourself? Allow the children to help within their skills. What tasks do you need help with?

Move Ahead

From the list of items you need help with, create a plan to ask for assistance, trade skills with someone who can do this, or make a plan to pay for the service.

I am always doing that which I can not do,
in order that I may learn how to do it. ~Pablo Picasso

Find more helpful tips and practical helps in The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make by Pam Farrel and PeggySue Wells.