(And What To Do Instead)
I am a list maker.
I love lists. I always have.
There’s something about writing everything down that makes me feel organized… in control… like I’ve got a plan.
But then life happened.
More babies.
More responsibilities.
More people needing me all day long.
The heavy mental load just kept growing and growing. (You can read about that here)
And suddenly… my lists stopped working. I didn’t understand the problem with to-do lists for a long time. This was especially true as a mom trying to keep up with everything.
You can grab the Reverse Daily Planner here:
[Amazon $13.99]
The Problem With To-Do Lists (No One Talks About as a Mom)
I would make a list.
A really good one.
And then… not finish it.
So the next day?
I’d try again.
New list. Fresh start.
And then I wouldn’t finish that one either.
And slowly, without even realizing it, something shifted.
That list that was supposed to help me…
started making me feel like I was failing. ( and as moms, we don’t need more reasons to feel like a failure).
This is when I started realizing the problem with to-do lists wasn’t me—it was the system.
To-Do Lists Don’t Motivate Moms… They Overwhelm Them
Even if you love lists like I do, they can backfire.
Because when your day includes:
- toddlers
- homeschooling
- meals
- cleaning
- car-pooling
- appointments
- work
- interruptions every 3 minutes
👉 your list doesn’t stand a chance.
And when you don’t complete it?
You feel:
- behind
- scattered
- overwhelmed
- sometimes completely frozen
- like a failure
- stressed
Like… where do I even start now?
And If You’re Type A… It Can Be Even Worse
If you’re more of a “list person,” this hits even harder.
Because now your list isn’t just a tool…
👉 it becomes how you measure yourself.
- “I didn’t finish my list”
- “I didn’t do enough”
- “I’m behind again”
And that’s a heavy place to live.
So I Stopped Using To-Do Lists
Not because I don’t love lists…
But because they weren’t loving me back. As cheesy as that sounds. But really, they no longer served a positive purpose in my life.
Once I understood the problem with to-do lists, everything started to shift.
What I Do Instead (Reverse Planning)
Instead of writing down everything I need to do…
👉 I started writing down everything I did do.
Throughout the day, I’d jot things down like:
- worked out
- did the dishes
- started a load of laundry
- put the laundry away
- read with my kids
- cuddled on the couch
- finished a math lesson
- cooked dinner
- paid bills
- wiped counters
- read bible
Nothing fancy. Nothing perfect.
Just real life.
And Something Shifted
At the end of the day, instead of feeling behind…
I could actually see my day.
I could see:
👉 I showed up
👉 I cared for my family
👉 I got things done
👉 I made a home
And I started thinking:
“Wow… I actually did a really good job today.”
But What About Things You Still Need To Do?
This is the part people always ask.
If something truly needs to get done?
I write it down for tomorrow.
And then I can:
- prioritize it
- handle it when I actually have time
- stop carrying it mentally all day
This Is Why I Created the Reverse Daily Planner
At some point I realized…
👉 I cannot be the only one who feels this way.
So I created a simple planner that helps you:
✔ stop feeling overwhelmed
✔ stop chasing an impossible list
✔ actually see what you are accomplishing
✔ build realistic, life-giving routines
It’s especially helpful if you:
- feel constantly behind
- have an ADHD brain
- struggle to stick with traditional planners
- or feel like your worth is tied to productivity
A Better Way to End Your Day
Instead of ending your day thinking:
“I didn’t do enough…”
You start ending your day thinking:
👉 “I did a lot.”
👉 “I showed up.”
👉 “I’m doing a good job.”
And that changes everything.
If you’ve ever felt like planners aren’t working either, I wrote more about that here → [planner post]
💛 Want to Try Reverse Planning?
You can grab my Reverse Daily Planner here → Amazon $13.99
Or the Digital Reverse Daily Planner here → Printable $9
(It’s simple, realistic, and actually works for real life.)
Leave a Reply