Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do? Then drop into full engagement with whatever you're doing, and let the worry go.~Martha Beck
Many of us have so much on our plate, that there doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day to accomplish it all. We're trying so hard to juggle and manage in this fast-paced world, we are often running on autopilot, which can leave us physically exhausted, mentally fatigued and feeling scattered and overwelmed. But what would happen if we just let the low end drag? I heard Jess Sowers on Roots & Refuge use this term awhile back and it so resonated with me. It is a tweaked version of the Southern saying,
Let the rough end drag,which literally means if we're carrying a large piece of wood by ourselves, just take one end of it and let the rough end drag on the ground. Figuratively it means, when we've got a heavy load (obligations, responsibilities, etc), do what's most important and let the rest go for now.
To accomplish this, we first need to clarify what takes precedence in our life. Is it our family, our work, our service, our health, our peace of mind? Once we've got our priorities straight, then we can simply focus on those tasks first and the rest of our to-do list can decend from there. We might also take a look at how we manage our time. Do we have any time-sucking habits - activities that eat up chunks of our day, like long phone calls, scrolling social media or watching television - that hinder us from completing our intended goals? Scaling these down and setting time limits will help a lot.
Overcommitting ourselves or stretching ourselves too thin and spending our days always on the move; rushing around like a headless chicken, is stressful and takes a huge toll on our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Yet, it's often a pressure we put on ourselves. It's like the browser of our mind has too many tabs open, filling our head with an incessant loop of everything that needs doing and we fear falling behind, so we forge onward. Living this way will eventually drain our energy to the point of depletion. It's not sustainable. We need to save our precious energy for the things that truly matter to us. This may require saying,
noto requests that don't align with our priorities, and taking time each day for self-rejuvenation.
The reality is, there will ALWAYS be things that need doing. In fact, I bet every one of us could think of at least five things right off the top of our heads. So rather than running ourselves ragged each day, let's enjoy our moments more by simply aiming for our best, concentrating on what matters most and letting the low end drag.