A To-Do List Perspective Shift

Our brain tends to default to perspectives that don’t always serve us - that is isepecially true when it comes to our to-do lists. Let me give you an example. 

I was coaching a client recently who felt completely overwhelmed every time she looked at her to-do list. Her immediate reaction was, “There are over 30 things on here. I’m never going to get all of this done.” Sound familiar?

We couldn’t change the number of tasks or the deadlines—those were fixed. But what we could change was how she thought about the list. I asked her, “If you sat down and worked on this list without any interruptions, how long would it take you to complete everything?” She thought about it for a moment and said, “About a day and a half.”

Then I asked, “What if, instead of thinking, ‘There’s no way I’ll finish this,’ you thought, ‘This is only a day and a half’s worth of work’?” Her response was immediate—she felt relief. Nothing on the list had changed. The deadlines hadn’t moved. The only thing that shifted was her interpretation of the situation.

This small mental shift made a big difference. It’s a reminder that while we can’t always change the facts, we can absolutely change how we approach them.

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, pause and take a step back. Look at the facts of the situation and challenge yourself to find two or three different perspectives. Which one feels the most supportive? If you find one that eases your stress, lean into that perspective. You’ll be surprised how much clarity and calm you can create with this approach.

If you have questions about how to shift your perspective or want to share your experience, drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.Our brain tends to default to perspectives that don’t always serve us - that is isepecially true when it comes to our to-do lists. Let me give you an example. 

I was coaching a client recently who felt completely overwhelmed every time she looked at her to-do list. Her immediate reaction was, “There are over 30 things on here. I’m never going to get all of this done.” Sound familiar?

We couldn’t change the number of tasks or the deadlines—those were fixed. But what we could change was how she thought about the list. I asked her, “If you sat down and worked on this list without any interruptions, how long would it take you to complete everything?” She thought about it for a moment and said, “About a day and a half.”

Then I asked, “What if, instead of thinking, ‘There’s no way I’ll finish this,’ you thought, ‘This is only a day and a half’s worth of work’?” Her response was immediate—she felt relief. Nothing on the list had changed. The deadlines hadn’t moved. The only thing that shifted was her interpretation of the situation.

This small mental shift made a big difference. It’s a reminder that while we can’t always change the facts, we can absolutely change how we approach them.

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, pause and take a step back. Look at the facts of the situation and challenge yourself to find two or three different perspectives. Which one feels the most supportive? If you find one that eases your stress, lean into that perspective. You’ll be surprised how much clarity and calm you can create with this approach.

If you have questions about how to shift your perspective or want to share your experience, send me an email at jenn@jenndealcoaching.com. I’d love to hear from you.