The Gentle To-Do List: Planning with Energy, Not Pressure
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I'm so glad you're here with me today.
If you've ever stared at a long to-do list and felt your chest tighten because you know you don't have the energy for all of it, I want to tell you I've been there, too. There are so many days, especially recently, when I've looked at what I “should” be doing and feel completely overwhelmed. For a long time, I thought the only answer was to push through, in part because for a long time I could do that. But honestly, that just left me more exhausted, more frustrated, and feeling like I was failing when things were still on my list at the end of the day.
So recently, I started experimenting with a different way of planning, one that starts with my energy instead of with tasks. Now each morning, instead of forcing myself into a rigid plan, I pause and check in. Do I have low, medium, or high energy today? How am I feeling overall?
On low energy days, I give myself permission to only tackle one small, doable task, like replying to a message or doing some light tidying around the house.
On medium energy days, I might outline some writing, record one of these audios, or make a few phone calls.
When I notice high energy days, that's when I start leaning into bigger projects, things that require more focus or creativity.
The difference is, now that I’m measuring my day with energy and no longer tying my worth to how much I get done, I'm matching what I do to the energy I actually have. And that shift has been huge.
For instance, I woke up yesterday and I’d slept pretty well. In the morning I was thinking about all the things I wanted to do and I felt like I had high energy. Then I went to the grocery store, which for me is a very, very high energy task. I don't love going to the grocery store and it takes a lot of energy for me. So when I got home, I had a huge dip. I almost started to feel like, “Wow, I thought I knew myself better. I thought I knew how my energy is a little bit more than that.” However, instead of talking to myself that way like I usually would, I leaned into what my body needed. I laid down and rested for a little while.
When I got up, I was able to do some creative work that was more medium energy, and it didn't feel like a huge [energy] dip anymore because I was listening.
It was one of the first times I've ever used this method that I've been working on that didn't immediately make me feel like I wanted to blame myself for not being able to do enough. I know that's really big for a lot of you because it's big for me. So, I wanted to capture this process that I've been working on in something simple and supportive.
That’s why I created The Gentle To-Do List Guidebook, which is not a traditional planner. I love my planners. If you've known me for a long time, especially, you know I'm a color-coded girl; but, this new system isn't like that at all. It's a gentle system that helps you start with a quick energy check-in, choose just a few priorities that match how you're feeling each day, build in rest as part of your plan instead of an afterthought, and reflect at the end of the day or week with kindness instead of guilt.
It's definitely become my daily anchor of how I plan my time. And it's one of the reasons I'm getting more done without draining myself. I'll be sharing more about it really soon, including how you can grab your own copy if it sounds like you want to try it or something you need in your life now. I know that's how it started for me - something I really needed.
But for now, I just wanted to encourage you to try starting your list with your energy, not your tasks. Even if you don't write anything down, notice how your body feels today and let that guide what's realistic for you. One small step that fits your energy is more powerful than a dozen tasks you can't move forward on. It's especially more powerful than being stuck in the overwhelm and confusion of trying to soldier through and trying to be kind to yourself.
Today, your best really is enough.
Your energy is really important to how you can move through your day and your week.
I’ll be back soon with more, but I hope this helps for this week.
Talk to you soon. 🩷
What’s Next?
Try planning tomorrow with your energy in mind rather than all the things you need to get done.
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