I like being busy as much as I like sitting on the couch with a book. My to-do lists are long. My pile of books is big. Lists keep me organized and books keep me distracted.
Today’s List
Write the nieces.
Make up a dance about popcorn.
Vacuum the kitchen.
Plant some peas.
Check on IRS refund.
Think about a new business card.
Walk with Candy.
Buy candy.
Call Franny.
Plan another get-rich-quick scheme.
Do homework.
Teach 3 kids classes.
Teach 2 adult classes.
Some things on the list need immediate attention. Most of them don’t. Those that fall in the latter category are in bold. I like having a picture of things I have to do and reminder of things I’ll get to when I feel like it.
Horribly paraphrasing Stephen Covey in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, there are 4 categories of stuff we have to do.
1. Important and urgent.
2. Important but not urgent.
3. Not important but urgent.
4. Not important not urgent.
Rumor has it we compile list #3 a lot whether on paper or in our heads. Put “I must, need or have to” in front of any of your (my) list items and it changes everything. It adds urgency where it may not be necessary. That’s being pretend busy.
And that leads to being so-stressed out, it’s no longer acceptable to be simply stressed, we need to be so-stressed.
At what point did being super busy or highly stressed become such a sought after human condition? When did we become inundated with talking about all the stuff we have to do ? Wouldn’t it be better to take the time spent mulling over our busyness and read Mad Magazine on the couch for a few minutes?
Don’t get me wrong. There are times I like making mountains out of molehills. I do that so others will feel sorry for me. They will cut me some slack for not completing my to-dos. The thing is they didn’t make up the list, I did.
Satya (saht-ya) the second Yama, is truthfulness. Be truthful to ourselves and others.
You: “I am so stressed out, I have so much to do before the weekend.”
Me (not practicing Satya): “I hear you!”
My reply intimates that I am as stressed and as busy as you. No way I’m going to admit that I’m looking forward to an afternoon with Georgia on the sofa. If you’re busy I am too. So I’m not being truthful.
Remember yoga is not just a physical practice, it’s a mental one. It takes practice to hone down our lists and focus on what is really important. Cut yourself some slack and redo your to-do list. What’s really important? What’s really urgent? Be truthful. What must you do today and what do you get to do today?
New list:
Breath in. Breath out. Repeat.
Namaste- Georgia and I are lying on the porch today!
Alexandra Langstaff 