Cross It off Your List

You probably noticed that we never published a September issue. Here's why. Our creative editor, Melanie, moved across the country and settled her little family into a new home. Our design editor, Becca, had committed to working overtime for her demanding day job, while caring for her family and keeping up with household tasks in the off hours. Meanwhile, I was juggling four kids, church activities, back to school agendas, and my new assignment as the communications coordinator for our school's PTO.

By mid-August I was stressed. I'd fallen behind on the articles I was editing and wasn't sure where I could come up with the time to complete them. Our team of stay-at-home mom editors had worked so hard to create Store & Style, and I didn't want to compromise content or quality. I worried and worried, but accomplished little. By the last week of August, my stress turned to resignation: there was no way we'd get a new issue up by September 1st, or even September 7th. We'd just have to let September go.

It took me a few days to get over feeling guilty and unprofessional. Then I realized that time would not stop because Store & Style skipped an issue (and that most people wouldn't even notice). Letting it go had lots of positive benefits: my stress dissolved; I enjoyed the last days of summer (including beach trips and play dates); I spent time with my kids before school; I was able to successfully manage my other commitments.

Sometimes the only way to simplify is to cross tasks off our lists. Not only small, mundane tasks, but other demands that we've let loom large. Often we impose the must do, must complete, must have, must be, pressure ourselves. How many of your deadlines are self-created? What is the worst that would happen if you just let one item (even a biggie) drop? Obviously there are tasks that can't be ignored (professional deadlines, childcare) but carefully separating crucial to-dos from less essential activities is the first step to greater peace of mind.

After I had my third child, I made a conscious decision to stop trying to accomplish so much, and start enjoying what I did accomplish more. This remains my goal, and remembering it helped me let September go.