The open apps and windows on my phone are a pretty accurate reflection of my brain and my to-do list. On average, I have about 20 website tabs open in addition to all apps. In my mind, I know that I will come back to them at some point in the day or someday soon and finish my research, or finally click "checkout" when I'm done shopping. My children are constantly reminding me that I should close the apps because it drains my phone's battery. They take a minute to ask me what I am actually using and close out everything else.
It occurred to me that this was very similar to managing my thoughts and mental to-do list throughout the day. I move from one thing to the next without properly "closing out" the previous thought...and I do that over and over again throughout the day. Let's add to that incoming communications via email or texts and the non-stop questions and requests. Not only am I probably less accomplished, but it impacts my stress level and I feel...well, drained.
Here are a couple of considerations for how we can manage those "apps" a little better:
For my parents with children that can comprehend the message - tell them upfront. If I am in the middle of a thought, I literally say, "Hold on, I have too many apps open right now". Sometimes they say it before I do. It's something that this generation can relate to and easily apply.
Make a list using your system of choice - paper or electronic and prioritize accordingly. There's more than one way to do this. You can prioritize urgent first followed by the most important ones. However, you can also organize the list according to time constraints. You may only have a few free minutes; what on your list can you actually accomplish in those few minutes - not think about for 10 minutes.
Most importantly, keep your battery charged. Knowing that the multiple to-dos will require a lot from you, its in our best interest to start off with a charged battery to handle what's incoming. Keeping your battery charged looks different for everyone, so take some time to find those things that keep you feeling your best - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
In no way do I have this completely solved, it's always a work in progress.
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