We have things to do and places to go, but never enough time to do everything we want. Go, go, go. We have too many things on the go. We push ourselves to do as much as possible, even when we feel overwhelmed and as if we've lost control of our lives. We let ourselves be dragged around like dolls, placed into situations and commitments we don’t want. We do things we don’t want to.
It’s difficult to say no because we don’t want to disappoint people. We tend to believe that others are helpless, that they can’t manage or enjoy themselves without us. We feel guilty for not helping our family and friends, but that’s a lie we tell ourselves. Deep down, we want to be needed, and that’s why we keep helping—even when we don’t have the time or energy.
While it's important to help others because life is hard, we also need to take care of ourselves. If we reach a point of exhaustion and break down, the people we've been helping will have to manage without us. And you know what? They will. We often overestimate our importance in other people’s lives. They need us, but not for everything.
When we have too many things on our to-do list, we’re not just overwhelmed—we’re stuck. Nothing moves forward. We juggle too many tasks, our attention is split in countless directions, and our progress is minimal. We spend more time thinking about what to do than actually doing it.
As Ryan Holiday wisely points out:
"The one thing all fools have in common […] is that they are always getting ready to start. It’s not that fools aren’t busy—they are. They’re running around like crazy, they’ve got a million ideas, a million things they’re doing. The problem is that none of them concretely move the ball forward in any way."
Take time to reflect and prioritize what truly matters in your life. Focus on one thing at a time and watch it flourish. You’ll feel a sense of relief when you see real progress. You’ll also realize that other people are doing just fine without you.
Stop waiting for the perfect time—it doesn’t exist. Take action now. Break free from the endless to-do list!
Take care.