January 24, 2024

Hello friends,

Today has been a really busy day. It has been a really wonderfully productive day filled with things I was excited to do and proud that I got done, but I really haven’t had a chance to sit down at all let alone sit down and write until now.

To be honest, my brain feels a little fried, but between feeling like I got a ton done and not having the energy to do some deep introspection, today seems like the perfect day to introduce the “To Done” or “Got Done” list.

In his book Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It, Ethan Kross, professor and director of the Emotion and Self Control Lab at the University of Michigan, wrote “Your mood is defined not by what you did but by what you thought about.” Our tendency to dwell on what we still have to do and what we didn't achieve leads to negative self-talk that can heighten negative thoughts and emotions while small wins heighten positive emotions and intrinsic motivation and lead to more productivity and creativity. In this article by WIRED, he elaborates: “Creating a list can help restore a sense of control in a situation that lacks order, as a way of organizing and giving you a sense this is something you can manage.”

Take 5-15 minutes and write about

What did you get done today?

I hope today’s prompt leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. For me, this exercise also really helps me build trust in my own capacity and competency.

Your friend,
Laura