Living Off List

Inner Wisdom Wednesday - Living Off List

As one of life’s reflectors, ‘ponderers’ and perusors. I am committing to share more wisdom that comes my way. Usually in the form of something rather marvellous from Her Indoors.

Her Indoors is the name that I give (was given by H.I.) to my intuition, inner wisdom, thoughts and ponderings. The inner guidance, the internal sat nav system, the ‘do this not that’. The do this and then do that. You get the jist? 

Her Indoors feels like the voice in my head that is my cheerleader and voice of reason, although the insight doesn’t always feel right at the time. Taking action on and following the guidance has always come good.

Tune in on a Wednesday for inner wisdom. 

Living Off List

When did the to-do list appear?

When did life get so busy that we had to write everything down to remind ourselves?

When did self-care become something to do rather than someone to be?
Why does completing a to-do sometimes feel elating and exhausting in equal measures?

Living off list, as opposed to living off a list, came about for us when Rich would do the food shop. A prepared, planned and detailed creation for the weekly Aldi visit. Sometimes coming back with goodies that weren’t on the list. Goodies that we could not live that week without.

My act of control freakery has come full circle and is enabling a new approach to life.

I’ve put myself forward for this trial, far from clinical but it is reviewed and documented all the same.

A few weeks ago when the term Living Off List came in as a thought, I consciously decided to not make to-to lists. You may have seen my ta-da lists on social media, they’re fun and I believe the energy around them is what leads to the action steps and experience of creating from the original intention.

I have spent time pondering about statements I have lived by in many areas of my life:

‘What gets measured, gets done’, came up in many ponders. This alone has possibly fuelled the list creating habits. 

What are you eating today, when are you eating, how much are you eating, how are you moving your body, how much water are you drinking, how much is too much coffee, what are you thinking, what are you doing 9-10am, what are you doing 10-11am, when are you relaxing, when are you doing your self-care, when are spending time with friends and family, when are you spending time alone, when are you going to sleep, how much sleep will you get? 

I could go on but you might be getting the picture.

I am torn between consistency and discipline creating change and loving myself so hard that wanting to look after this body, mind and spirit of mine comes as default. 

This is the project. Loving myself so hard, querying and questioning anything that does not support me doing just that.

Life can be so much easier, we are being and doing stuff more naturally.

Life can be so much more fun, when it’s not all planned so we are too exhausted to be and do in the moment.

Life can be so much more present when we’re not constantly chasing the next item to tick off the list.

Fact is we will all end up not being in our loaned meat suit, glued to this ball off rock, revolving around the sun. I’m wondering how different our experience may be if it's one that we have created through being and not doing.

I’ll keep you posted with the progress of Living Off List.

What Next?

If you fancy having a play with Living Off List, start small.

Notice what you put on the list.

See how you feel when you create a list.

Check in with how you feel when you still have stuff on your list at the end of the day.

Review what is going on your list and regularly gets done, does it need to go on the list?

Review what regularly goes on the list and doesn’t get done.

Until next time, Lynn :)