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Somehow I Manage | Tackling the To-Do List: Embracing Progress Over Perfection as the New School Year Begins

By: Britt Yenser

“Not me moving things from this week’s to-do list to next week’s to-do list.”

–Me, every Sunday

For two months, I’ve been moving “write an article” from one to-do list to the next. Now it’s August, back-to-school season, and my workload feels heavier than ever. It’d be easy to keep pushing this task off, but where’s the satisfaction in that?

 

As I finally sit down to write, a few things come to mind:

  • Structuring my day with a balance of tasks and rest helps me stay productive without burning out. Not to be the person who says, “rest is productive” but…just take your lunch break, okay? 
  • It’s okay to push things off if they’re not a priority. If I can comfortably say, “It’s not a priority to…” then it can wait. If not, it needs to get done.
  • I need to be honest with myself and others. I don’t always prioritize well, forget to delegate, or trip myself up. It’s crucial to let others in so they can help me catch and correct these slip-ups.
  • Perfection is the enemy of progress. Waiting for the perfect mood or content means this article wouldn’t exist. It’s not perfect, but I hope it helps someone!
  • Sometimes, you just need to eat the frog—do the thing you’re avoiding. My frog was actually mowing the lawn, but I also committed to writing this today, and here we are.

 

As we gear up for the new school year, maybe it’s time to tackle that task you’ve been avoiding. Whether it’s checking classrooms, updating firmware, or squeezing in some last-minute professional development, I hope one of these reminders helps you cross that item off your list and start the year strong!

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