What if you realized you would never finish your to-do list?
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
— John Lubbock
I recently listened to a podcast that posed a question I can’t stop thinking about:
What if you realized you would never finish your to-do list?
At first, I felt a wave of anxiety and discomfort. Like many others, I often operate under the quiet assumption that if I just work a little harder, move a little faster, and cross a few more things off the list—then I’ll finally arrive at that magical moment of rest. But the question stuck with me because it felt true: there will always be one more thing. One more email to answer. One more room to clean. One more thing to prepare, fix, or plan for.
So what if rest isn’t something we eventually earn once everything is finished, but something we must intentionally create—even in the middle of the mess?
As a mom of two young children, a business owner, and someone who wears many hats, I often find myself postponing rest. I tell myself I’ll slow down once the work is done, the house is clean, or the kids are asleep. But I’ve realized that if I wait until everything is complete, I may never actually get there.
Of course, there are non-negotiable responsibilities in life. We don’t always have the luxury or privilege to put things off. But sometimes, the pressure to be endlessly productive is self-imposed. And when that’s the case, it’s worth asking: Can I give myself permission to do less? Can I shift from doing into being, even briefly?
Here are a few gentle invitations to help you carve out space for rest, presence, and imperfection:
Practice saying “no,” or pausing before saying “yes.” Give yourself time to check in before committing to another task or obligation. It can be hard at first, but once you start doing it you start enjoying the no.
Embrace “good enough.” Sometimes completing a task imperfectly—or letting it wait—is exactly what’s needed.
Schedule rest like you would any other priority. Add decompression time, joyful activities, or moments of quiet into your calendar.
Ask yourself before any task: Will this energize me, or drain me? Use the answer to guide what needs to happen now, and what can wait.
There may never be a perfectly “done” moment where everything is checked off and calm magically appears. So instead, let’s create little pockets of stillness and presence right where we are.
~ Hannah Collentine-Cole, LCSW
Individual and Couples Therapy in Midtown Sacramento
