Busy Busy Busy
An I don’t list, because life is busy, there is no way of getting around that. Between family life, work life and home life. It is easy to forget that there is time for anything else.
How often do you find yourself overwhelmed by your ever growing to do list? I know I feel it several times a day. Be it at work, or my blogging life or keeping up with everything that needs to be done in the house and that’s before you even take in to account the 3 children and Fiance at home that need time, attention and love.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed.
How can you help yourself?
A year ago I read a post somewhere… I wish I knew where. But the post was the opposite of a to-do list.
This list is all about the things you aren’t willing to do. The things that you delegate out to others or that just DO NOT happen in your home.
It is time to stop focusing on what you HAVE to do and start thinking about the things you can bypass.
The impact of a heavy load on our well-being is huge. Suddenly even the smallest of things can become overwhelming, and once we are feeling like that it is hard to find the focus to achieve anything.
So here is my list of things ‘I don’t’
I Don’t list
I don’t iron
I don’t shave my legs more than once a month
I don’t dust
I don’t meal plan
I don’t meal prep
I don’t bake
I don’t take the bins out
I don’t clean the skirting boards (That’s a hoover job at best!)
I don’t remember all the plans I make
I don’t sit and do homework nightly
I don’t fight teeth-brushing (sometimes anyway!)
I don’t take Insta-worthy pictures
I don’t make roast dinners
I don’t make the bed
And just like that I have saved myself plenty of time to focus on the things I DO.
More time means less stress, less stress makes for a much happier and productive Claire, which I’ll be honest is better for everyone!
What would be on your ‘I Don’t’ list? Do you find it difficult to let go of tasks and find yourself playing superwoman regularly? Do you think you’d benefit from creating your own list?
I love this. From a fellow non-ironer who would be lucky to locate her skirting boards let alone a duster, I applaud your dont’s. Thanks for a positive start to my day – or a negative start depending on what way you look at it!
It’s liberating isn’t it!
So definitely a positive negative 😂
I LOVE this idea! I’m gonna make up a list and put it right in the front of my new planner for next year.
Good for you! Great to feel so liberating x
I love this!! I have a to do list every day, haha, very ocd around organisation. But I’m going to try this, it sounds quite freeing.
It was liberating just writing it x
Ooh, you’re clever. Might make one of these later, to take the pressure off! I don’t iron would be first on my list too. (Unless we’re going to a wedding – vague effort should be allowed for those, I guess…) Xx
Only just a valid excuse…. but so is just buying something new 🤣
I love your I don’t list. This could be a tag. I’d like to make my own I don’t list. It might but….
You’re right, it would be a good tag x
How clever! This is something I certainly need to do – thank you for the idea 🙂
It’s very freeing x
This is such a brilliant idea! I don’t iron would be on my list too! I don’t garden is also on my list. My parents in law are desperate for me to be passionate in my garden but I just don’t have the time or inclination (probably more the latter!)
I have a day of gardening… love it and then thats me for a few years!
I love this. I might create an I don’t list to balance my to do list. Great idea!
You really should, you’ll feel so liberated x
I love the idea of an I don’t list. I think there are a lot of things that would be on my list already but it’s a great concept especially if you tend to be a people pleaser. One to make and put up on the fridge for all to see!
Oh yes, you must make sure everyone in the family knows what you Don’t do! 🙂
I absolutely love the idea of an ‘I don’t!’ List! Mine would be things like.. I don’t iron bedding.. Or I don’t peel potatoes unless I have to!
Both very good ones!
This list is amazing! I’ll definitely be making my own list! Such a good idea! X
Enjoy the liberating feeling it brings x
The idea of a I don’t list is definitely an interesting twist but can go either way in my opinion. It can be a clever way of reminding yourself what to do but also can make you feel sub-par and act as negative affirmations for some individuals. That’s just my thoughts. Very thought-provoking post this!
Johnny | Johnny’s Traventures
Oh I am sure it could have some implications for some.
I think for me I feel like I am hugely failing at being the perfect employee, parent, partner, housewife, blogger so I had to let go of that pressure.
I am setting standards for myself to achieve but in reality all I am doing is overwhelming myself for no reason at all.
I feel so liberated with my list 🙂
Loved this idea!! I think as mothers we don’t give ourselves enough time to get things done as we want it all done last week haha… I’ll definitley make a list!!
I’m so guilty of that x
I totally love this idea. I constantly have a to do list hanging over be and this is completely liberating. Also I’ve not ironed in years!
It’s such a waste of time isn’t it x
Love this! For me, my don’t list would include things like I don’t clean upstais (delegate), I don’t look for new recepies, and I don’t have my social notifications on 🙂
I hate ironing. I hate it with the biggest of passions! lol
Oh man me too!
What a fabulous list! Mine would be the same, minus the taking out of bins (as my husband is often away with work so if I don’t do it, no one does!!) and the roast dinner…as I love a roast dinner!
I’m not a fan which is why I don’t make it, definitely Robs job!
What excellent advice! It is a great reminder to not feel guilty about not ‘doing ‘ many things.
I try to follow the 4D principle – drop it, defer it, delegate it, do it.
Brilliant!
Really awesome n unique. I had a habit of ironing each n everything, including handkerchief n socks too. Lol ! But then I stopped one fine day and it’s like forever…And there are many don’t do things in my list .
I don’t plan while travelling, i don’t apply filter to my photos, i don’t do exercise too 😀 and I don’t laugh on a bad joke. It saves my time from pretending a fake smile ☺️
Hahaha the joke thing is brilliant!
Love this list! Quite liberating! Having a I don’t list is good reminder without feeling guilty of what I don’t! However I don’t take insta-worth pics too and I don’t like to put my pic on social media! I will make mine today and put it in the fridge so that I don’t stress much about not doing things. Thank you for sharing this.
Enjoy some extra time x
I need this! There is not much on my I don’t list as I feel I seem to do everything and often as you say feel overwhelmed.
I’ve been struggling with overwhelm recently so this has definitely helped x
Love the list. Can relate to almost all of them. Most of them I don’t do even in a month. Great post!
Fun post thank you! I shall have to try that.
Enjoy x
My “I don’t” list is pretty long but I basically alerted my husband to it 20 years ago! LOL I love this post!
I don’t iron either. That’y my husband’s responsibility.
Good for you. I just think there are so many other ways to waste your time 💕
I don’t do a lot of things. Because my husband works from home he does quite a lot of, well, everything. He even cooks every night (yes, I’m lucky)!
Oh amazing!!
If your I don’t lists work for you, then just keep it up 🙂 – Jojo Reyes Jr
Oh my gosh, Claire, I remember that post too but have to admit not where I read it haha. I need to make a don’t list and hang it on my fridge as a reminder to me and my family. This is a great idea.
You definitely need one x
Wow, I didn’t even have to think about some of these as I don’ts they have always been – hardly ever’s…. Although, I must shave my legs for me – self-love, a tad OCD!
Thankfully you can barely see mine! 😂
Great idea, I’ve already put ‘make a to don’t list’ on my to do list! X
Hahaha that’s brilliant! If you start with that you could save yourself some time x
I Don’t List, making one tomorrow. I definitely need this. Thank you
Very very interesting – Will have to take a moment or an hour to come up with my “Don’t” list
Or maybe even a few hours x
I only shave my legs because my knee rehab physio does not need to see my hair knees, or handle them, but that’s only once every two weeks and I only do half the leg he touches. I also don’t iron or do bins. Glad it’s not just me on those! Thank you for sharing, I think we all need to “don’t” less.
We most certainly do need to Dont way more!
[…] Not only did he want to try it, he wanted to make it for Sunday dinner. You’ll know from my I Don’t post that I Don’t make roast dinners (Rob is the roast king) I was only too happy to allow F […]
Am I the only one who keeps adding to my list? Great post! 😁🌴
Nope! I do too, in fact I am having a whole ‘I Don’t’ day!
I think I’ve had a few weeks of I don’ts! 😤🌴😁.
I love this. I don’t do a few of those either.
It’s really good for your soul x
Oh my gosh, I really love this idea and your list.
I don’t wake up early. I don’t take criticism well. I don’t like when I cannot control what’s happening. I don’t watch a lot of tv. I don’t feel like I owe anything to anyone but myself.
That is a brilliant list Vee!
I love the idea of an ‘I Don’t’ list! I must sit down and write one of these out. Driving frequently would defo be on mine!
Thats a good one! This list is very freeing x
I love the fact that you know what your priorities are and are unafraid to say what things are NOT a priority. Well done!
Thank you Didi. I think it is really important to prioritise but know our own limits x
This one’s nice! Maybe I should write my own I DON’T list soon? I have plenty haha
You definitely should, it is very freeing x
A different way of looking at things! I don’t iron, I don’t bake, I don’t do things I don’t want to do, I don’t 😀 Thanks for sharing it’s liberating x
It’s so liberating x x