Tips on prioritzing / getting "to do" list done? To much to do....but life goes on.....

Not a common question I suppose.

My history- Mostly recovered from major anxiety during years of lyme disease. (anxiety and/or depression is one of the many symptoms of long term lyme disease).

Its minimal now. I also simplified my life and put things off during the process of healing. Procrastination catches up to you !!

I work full time and like many, have a huge list of things to do in my personal life, house repair /yard, projects, cars stuff ect.

****The stuff I have to do with deadlines gets done (last minute)..........its the list of other stuff that gets me overwhelmed and I think to much about it vs "getting it done". This builds anxiety just thinking about it and that anxiety make me tired....then I take naps LOL!!.****

I envy those who get a million things done with a smile on their face and dont get overwhelmed doing it.

Outdoors/nature and exercise is relaxing outlet for me, but I need to learn how to calmly concentrate on getting stuff done some how. I need to much "down time" - that does not jive with life in 2021.

I have used a variety of natural herbs and supplements known for stress relief which did help a lot, but Im looking for other ideas that Ive not tried.

Anyone relate to this? Its kinda like burnout laced with left over anxiety.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Maybe this is the new "me" from now on.....I dont know. Way better than in the past, but still not like my old self.....which was a long time ago.

Just reading here I know most here are worse off, but the more you heal, the more completely healed you want to be, thats where I am, and there is limited info on this stage.

thanks

Post Edited (astroman) : 3/6/2021 3:33:42 PM (GMT-7)

Positive household in my youth. Im actually good at problem solving, its part of my job.

This evening, I started and completed a six hour mechanical "project" (which was somewhat enjoyable and rewarding), but didnt get the list of little things done earlier in the day (which are not enjoyable) but should have been done.

This is more like my brain just sputtering in response to wondering were to start. As a "do-it-your-selfer" my list never ends, and it somewhat burns me out. I could throw darts at it, but there's got to be a better way.....

It's good that you are positive. I was negative for many decades until I read a column on being positive.

I'm wondering, then, if your trouble with prioritizing has something to do with the anxiety.

In my case, thinking positive, I go with the most important thing that's going on with me.

Other minor things get put off, like filling out my grocery list, putting the tarp on the car, getting my income tax done, shaving. All smaller projects, but they get pushed aside for they don't have to be done soon. So I just go to my major project until something more important comes along.

You say, the deadline things from your job get done, "its the list of other stuff that gets me overwhelmed and I think to much about it vs "getting it done". This builds anxiety just thinking about it and that anxiety make me tired....then I take naps LOL!!."

And you got a larger project done, "but didnt get the list of little things done earlier in the day (which are not enjoyable) but should have been done." And "This is more like my brain just sputtering in response to wondering were to start. As a "do-it-your-selfer" my list never ends, and it somewhat burns me out. I could throw darts at it, but there's got to be a better way....."

Maybe it's the already existing anxiety that 's the problem. It sounds like your brain is speeded up, and if it sees 10 tasks, it has to do 10 tasks, and it has to do them today.

I have bipolar, and without medicine, an anti-depressant and a stabilizer (Lithium for me), my mind goes 100 miles per hour and life is going at about 50 miles an hour. With life going at about 50 miles per hour, I can get about 4 or 5 smaller tasks done a day. I can't get 10.

There is a saying in bipolar, "My mind makes contracts which my body can't keep."

The mind is going faster than the body can actually fulfill the duties. This causes frustration, and so you just lay down and take a nap.

Have you ever taken any medicine for anxiety or bipolar?

You said, “So yes this is anxiety related what I have going on right now”

And added, “I did try some anxiety meds and they weren’t for me it made me somewhat mentally unresponsive ,my sense of humor and creativity went completely away and it turned me into a zombie more or less”

I think my anti-depressant and Lithium stabilizer probably have slowed me down. But I would rather have that and be able to function and get projects done than to not take the medicine and basically have the emotional problems I was having and able to get very little done.

You say, “You said, “Since I am a problem solver driven to find answers, Accepting my health to “just be that way” Is hard for me to accept.”

Yes, that is difficult. I’ve been through some of those myself.

Is there anyway you could lessen the amount of anti-anxiety medicine that you took before which would help with your anxiety, but allow you to get things done?

You said your son had anxiety. Is he on medicine?