Photo by Lara Jameson
I learned about this concept from one of my favorite online writers - Sahil Bloom and wrote about it in my previous articles.
We all chase dreams, but some take the initiative to map a path towards them, setting life goals. These goals often take the form of to-do lists. The Anti-To-Do-List flips the script by helping you avoid the pitfalls that could derail your journey.
It’s usually in the form of a list of habits, and behaviors to avoid, that act as a roadmap to keep you on track.
Here is my Anti-To-Do List for the next three months.
Business and Professional
Do Not Make Trivial Choices Across the Day - This normally depletes my mental resources creating Decision Fatigue. Batch similar decisions and reserve my willpower for critical moments.
Do Not Live on Autopilot: It’s so easy to become numb to daily routines. Practice mindfulness and find moments of joy in everyday activities.
Do Not Neglect Gratitude: Stop taking what I have for granted and cultivate an attitude of gratitude for the good things in my life. - #TeamAlhamdulillah
Do Not Fall For The "Always On" Mentality: This year has been a busy one, and while I'm not slowing down, I'm learning the importance of an "off" switch. Encouraging healthy boundaries and respecting personal time leads to better results in the long run.
Personal
Do Not Let Your Kindness Be Taken For Weakness - I understand kindness is core to who I am, but for the rest of this year, I'm also setting boundaries. Respect for myself and my time allows me to continue offering genuine support without emotionally burning out. I don’t respond well to disrespect.
Do Not Let Your Emotions Take Control - Don't react impulsively. Pause, understand your emotions, and then choose a conscious response. This one will be the hardest out of all the others - also the most important one.
Do Not Be The "Should" Monster: Stop letting societal expectations dictate your life. Pursue what truly matters to you. My intuition is my biggest superpower - lean into it more and shut off the world.
Don’t Negotiate With Yourself - For the 3 main goals I have, I have signed a contract with myself and sealed it. Less self-deliberation, more doing!
Photo by Lara Jameson
Photo by Leeloo The First
Thank you so much. Happy to inspire.
Thank you so much for this great piece, Akil.