While packing for a family vacation recently, I glanced over at my task list… and froze.
There were still emails to answer. Slides to finish. Invoices to check. Personal errands. Packing lists. Travel details. Dog instructions. Garbage clean up. And on, and on, and on.
There was no way I was going to get it all done.
And for a moment, panic set in.
You know that moment, the one where your brain starts bargaining with time: “If I stay up late tonight… if I wake up early tomorrow… if I skip lunch…”
It’s a full spiral. And I was mid-spin when I remembered something a mentor once told me:
“It’s okay to not get it all done.”
Simple? Yes.
Obvious? Maybe.
But in that moment, it felt like permission to exhale.
The Task List Will Never Love You Back
Task lists are useful. They keep us on track, organized, and focused.
But left unchecked? They also become tyrants.
A task list has no empathy.
It doesn’t need a mental break.
It doesn’t know your kids have soccer practice.
It doesn’t care if your brain is fried.
It has no ending. It will never say, “That’s enough for today.”
And that’s why you have to be the one in charge.
Your task list is a tool, not a scoreboard for your self-worth.
Productivity ≠ Completion
At Swift Kick, we work with leaders who are often chasing peak performance. But the healthiest ones? They’ve learned that true productivity isn’t getting everything done, it’s getting the right things done and letting the rest wait in line.
In Dance Floor Theory™, we talk about micro-actions, small, meaningful steps that move the group forward.
You don’t need to lead a flash mob to build engagement.
Sometimes it’s enough to show up, say one encouraging word, or complete one critical task and leave the rest for Monday.
Progress isn’t perfection.
Engagement isn’t exhaustion.
And your worth isn’t measured by the number of crossed-out lines in your planner.
Final Thought: Choose Peace Over Pressure
So no, I didn’t get everything done before vacation.
But I got enough done.
And more importantly, I went on vacation, fully present, guilt dialed down, peace dialed up.
That one phrase from my mentor still echoes in my head:
“It’s okay to not get it all done.”
Maybe it’s the reminder you need today too.
Because balance doesn’t come from doing it all.
It comes from doing what matters, and being kind enough to yourself to know the difference.
