Do you ever wake up with negative feelings and need a little help getting unstuck so you can get going? Having an ongoing list of things you want to accomplish by day, week or month may be just the ticket. 

My negative feelings tend to change or at least lose their icky charge when I pick up my list and start taking some action. Tiny actions add up to forward motion - no matter how I am feeling.

Emotional Toast
This weekend, for example, I was emotional toast. Meaning, I didn't have much to spare in terms of energy as I've got some sadness to trudge through. Didn't know that my feelings were due to SuperSize based on finishing a major project - which left me wide open to feel the gaping void extra hard early Saturday morning...anyone else ever experienced this?

Get Moving
So, while going through some not-so-favorite feelings, it was somehow still possible for me to collect my tax papers and make an appt with a CPA, put dishes away, take out compost and trash, make and drink several cups of tea, take a walk and watch something ridiculously funny (Black Book, British tv series if you must know). All possible because of a list....well, two lists....one for tasks I want to get done in life, and another with self care tasks.

Separate List for Self Care
This is great reminder to have onhand for the day (or days and weeks) when life seems to get messy. Self care techniques, items and rituals don't have to be expensive or extravagant but they do need to work for you. Examples of mine are: read the next chapter of my current book, brew cup of tea, pick up pen and doodle with favorite movie in background, tell myself it'll be okay & to just keep going (repeat as necessary), add to lists.

Not Alone
When all else fails,  it's time to call another person and see how they are doing. When I make these calls, I am under strict orders not to vent, moan or blab about what's up with me. This is not an opportunity for me to talk about myself - this is where I get to listen to another person and what they are going through - easy or challenging. And it gets me out of my the negative crapioca and listening to a story that isn't mine. It's okay for me to see that mine is not the only story in the world.

So, when you find things to do, do some of them, and make a list of the rest of them! Make that list fun and keep it current and accessible. When you're blocked and need to get out of stinkin' thinkin', you'll have a list of options for actions.