A short one, because I’ve got too much to be doing.
And it’s precisely because of that I want to share this piece from Oliver Burkeman.
Burkeman writes about being overwhelmed by Stuff To Be Done, and how we might manage that, in this case by having a list of (at most) three things we are thinking about at any one time.
Do one, and only then can you add something else to the list.
For me – and I’m guessing for you – summer can be difficult like this, as the graveyard of All The Things We Didn’t Have Time To Do During Semester. Unfortunately, that means summer often feels even more busy than semester, even as we want to get out of the office altogether.
Just as I’ve stopped planning to work while travelling, so too might this technique help in making less turn into more: if I’m not crippled by anxiety about not doing something, then maybe I’ll get the something else done done more quickly, so I can get back to the something.
Of course, if you’re one of the people waiting on something from me, you might feel different.
Have a good summer, and don’t overdo it.