Organizing The Never-Ending Expat To-Do List
“I was already feeling the weight of the never-ending list one night when my husband reminded me of something else I needed to do. Cue the tears.”
This post was originally written pre-COVID-19 but now, with so many of us having to navigate unexpected moves, working from home, unwanted excursions into homeschooling, etc., we believe the insights contained here are more relevant than ever.
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It all started when I was feeling overwhelmed by my mental to-do list as we prepared to move overseas for the first time as a family. There were emails to answer, deadlines to meet, and people to see. There was a twenty-page visa application to complete, a college course to finish, and a baby’s arrival to prepare for. Not to mention the stress involved in sorting through every single possession—deciding what to take, what to store, and what to give away.
I was already feeling the weight of the never-ending list one night when my husband reminded me of something else I needed to do. Cue the tears. Thankfully, he was more clear-headed than I was, and instead of being stuck in the so-much-to-do-so-little-time distress, he suggested we write out all our tasks the next day. I went to bed feeling a little bit better, and the next day we got to work.
If you’re reading this, you likely know the stress of preparing to move overseas, but we all know the stress doesn’t stop when you get on the plane. There are always things to do, no matter where in the world you are. In an effort to relieve some stress, here are some productivity tips I’ve learned for when the to-do list is too long.
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1. Write it Down and Prioritize
Sure, I can keep track of a couple of tasks in my mind, but when the list starts to grow and each task has its own deadline and sense of urgency, I need to get them out of my head. Once I can see them all at once, then I can prioritize.
This is what my husband and I did the next day. We spent time compiling all of our to-dos on paper. Then we went through them one by one and rated them on a scale of one to five based on urgency. Tasks that needed attention right away got a one. Tasks that we would like to do but weren’t important got a five. Then we gave each number its own list organized in order of importance. When we were finished, we had five lists on our refrigerator where we could easily see them and mark off tasks as we accomplished them. As a visual learner and checklist-lover, this was a huge help and stress reliever for me.
2. Eat the Frog
I have no doubt that some of you have literally eaten a frog in your adventures as an expat (or in your passport country), but this time we’re talking about a figurative one. I think I first heard this idea in college and it has stuck with me. If I knew I had to eat a frog, my tendency would be to put it off even though that leaves it hanging over my head and stressing me out indefinitely. Alternatively, I could just eat it and be free. In this context, think of the frog as a task you’re really dreading. Instead of procrastinating, just do it. Get it over with. Eat the frog and be done with the slimy thing.
3. Make a ‘Done List’
I recently heard of an interesting idea from author and speaker Emily P. Freeman—we all know what a to-do list is, but have you ever recorded what you actually accomplish on a given day? Some days it doesn’t feel like I did very much if I didn’t get everything crossed off my to-do list. But if I think about all the things I did do, it makes a difference. Maybe I didn’t do the assigned reading or respond to all the emails, but I did do two loads of laundry and cook dinner and texted a friend. Those things are important and necessary too and can encourage you when your to-do list isn’t any shorter.
4. Snowball
Dave Ramsey is a popular American financial advisor who recommends paying off debts starting with the smallest one, then using that as momentum to tackle the others. He calls this the Debt Snowball. I think this approach can be applied to productivity as well. Maybe the biggest job on your list seems too draining or impossible. It might feel counter-productive to start with little tasks, but give it a try. Once you get going, you might be surprised by the momentum you find to continue.
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I put all of these into place as I was working through the lists my husband and I made. Did they all work like magic and make my stress disappear? No. But did they help me think more clearly and allow me to accomplish more than I would have without them? Absolutely. Hopefully, they can help you too.
What do you do when there’s too much to do? If you have your own ideas and systems for juggling all the to-dos, we would love to hear them.
