To-do List That Never Gets Done
Hello dear friends,
I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful and thoughtful mood. 🌼
Today’s writing prompt touched a deeply familiar corner of my heart the moment I read it: “Something on your ‘to-do list’ that never gets done.” A simple sentence, yet it carries the weight of our everyday lives, doesn’t it?
We all make to-do lists with great enthusiasm. New pages, fresh pens, neat bullet points. They give us a sense of control, direction, and hope.
We believe that once something is written down, it is halfway done. But reality often tells a different story.
Days pass, lists grow longer, and that one stubborn task remains untouched—quietly mocking us from the bottom of the page.
We are in the habit of making to-do lists to get work done on time, yet we repeatedly fail to complete everything on them.
And the most interesting part? The task that never gets done is rarely trivial.
It’s usually something deeply meaningful: starting a fitness routine, writing regularly, learning a new skill, meditating, calling an old friend, or finally prioritising our own well-being.
Why does this happen?
One major reason is postponement disguised as planning.
We tell ourselves, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” because tomorrow feels safer than today. Tomorrow promises more time, more energy, and a better version of ourselves.
Unfortunately, tomorrow often arrives carrying the same excuses as yesterday.
Another reason is mental exhaustion.
Modern life demands constant attention. Between professional responsibilities, family duties, and the never-ending digital noise, our minds are already overloaded.
When we finally get a moment to breathe, the last thing we want is to tackle a demanding or emotionally heavy task. Comfort wins, and the to-do list loses.
There’s also fear, though we rarely name it.
- Fear of failure.
- Fear of not being good enough.
- Fear of discovering that we don’t enjoy the thing we thought we loved.
Leaving a task undone keeps our dreams intact. Once we start, we risk imperfection—and that vulnerability can feel uncomfortable.
Perfectionism plays its part too.
We wait for the perfect time, the perfect plan, the perfect mood. But perfection is an illusion.
Life doesn’t pause to become ideal; it keeps moving, messy and unpredictable. Waiting for perfect conditions often means waiting forever.
Over time, that unfinished task becomes more than just an item on a list. It turns into silent guilt.
Each time we rewrite it, we feel a small sting of disappointment. Slowly, we stop trusting our own promises, and motivation fades.
Here’s the gentle truth we all need to hear: this struggle does not make you lazy or undisciplined—it makes you human.
The answer isn’t longer to-do lists or harsher self-criticism. The answer lies in changing how we approach our tasks.
Instead of asking, “Why can’t I do this?” we should ask, “What is holding me back emotionally?” Is it fear? Is it fatigue? Is it uncertainty?
One powerful way forward is to start embarrassingly small.
- Not one hour of exercise—just five minutes.
- Not a full chapter—just one paragraph. Small steps build trust with ourselves. They tell our mind, “This is safe. This is possible.”
Another helpful shift is turning intentions into appointments.
When something is written into our calendar, it gains importance. We show up for meetings and obligations—why not show up for ourselves?
The Joy of Completion
Crossing a long-neglected task off your to-do list is one of life’s simplest yet most satisfying pleasures.
It’s a reminder of your ability to overcome inertia and move closer to your dreams. And who knows?
Most importantly, we must practice self-compassion. Life is not a competition, and productivity is not a measure of worth. Some days, surviving with grace is an achievement enough.
Perhaps that task on your to-do list isn’t waiting for more time or motivation. Maybe it’s waiting for kindness—from you to yourself.
So, what’s that one task on your to-do list that never gets done? Identify it, confront it, and take the first step. You might be surprised by how liberating it feels to finally turn “someday” into today
Tell me, friends: what is that one thing on your to-do list that never gets done? 😊😊
BE HAPPY….BE ACTIVE….BE FOCUSED….BE ALIVE…
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Retiredकलम 
very nice .
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Thank you so much.
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Fear of making a mistake!
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Acknowledging that fear is the first step! 🌱 Making mistakes is part of learning and growing. Every misstep is really just a lesson in disguise, guiding you toward greater confidence and clarity. Embrace the process—you don’t have to be perfect to move forward. 💪✨
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absolutely cheerful my friend, thank you for a wonderful post!
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Thank you so much, my friend—that truly means a lot. I’m really glad the post resonated with you and brought a smile.
Wishing you continued cheer, warmth, and many more moments worth celebrating. Always a pleasure sharing these exchanges with you.
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Contrast the avoda zara philosophy promoted by Maharishi from the sealed masoret of T’NaCH, Talmud, and Siddur
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Thank you so much.
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Written Very well, Verma sir. One powerful way forward is to start embarrassingly small…. will prove beneficial for many to make realized my to-do tasks.
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly agree—starting embarrassingly small is often the most honest and effective way forward. Tiny steps build confidence, reduce overwhelm, and quietly turn intentions into action. Grateful you saw that thread in the work, and I hope it helps many take that first gentle step ahead.
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This felt very familiar, honestly. That one task sitting at the bottom of the list really does have a way of staring back at us.
I liked how you spoke about postponement hiding behind planning. That part was very real. And the idea of starting embarrassingly small makes sense, because that is often the only way anything actually begins.
Thanks for writing this in a way that feels human, not preachy.
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Thank you for reading it so thoughtfully. I’m really glad it resonated — especially that quiet truth about postponement disguising itself as planning. That task at the bottom of the list has a way of knowing us a little too well.
“Embarrassingly small” felt important to name because beginnings are rarely heroic; they’re usually awkward, tentative, and human. And that’s enough.
I appreciate you noticing the tone too. I wanted it to feel like a shared nod of recognition, not a lecture. Thanks for meeting it in that spirit.
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Oh yes, your words are expressive and convey the thoughts and emotions behind them aptly.
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Thank you so much. That truly means a lot to me. I’m glad the words carried the feeling as clearly as the thought behind them — that’s always the quiet hope when writing. Your reading and response add depth to it, and I appreciate that more than I can say.
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