How do I decide which task to remove from my 5-item list without feeling guilty?

Try a quick triage: 1) Must: legal, safety, or immovable deadlines. 2) Should: expectations or nice-to-haves. 3) Want: energizing or growth. If you have 1–2 true Musts, cut a Should. If all look equal, compare impact vs. effort—remove the lowest-impact, high-effort item. In your Stoic journal, write a one-sentence permission slip: “I’m choosing to remove X this week to protect Y (energy, focus, health).” Guilt often eases when you link the decision to a value you care about.

What if skipping one task makes me anxious that I’ll fall behind at work or in life?

Name the fear, then test it. In Stoic, write: “If I remove X, I fear ___.” Next, list what’s in your control (communicating, rescheduling, preparing) and what isn’t (others’ reactions, market outcomes). Make a tiny commitment that contains risk, like a 10-minute check-in or a clear update to stakeholders. This reframes removal as strategic pacing, not avoidance. Close with a reflection: “One benefit of removing X this week is ___.” Anxiety often lowers when you create a plan for what you can control.

How can I use this prompt if I tend to overcommit or have ADHD time-blindness?

Keep the list concrete and time-bound. Write each task as one visible action (e.g., “Email Sam proposal draft,” not “Finish project”). Estimate a realistic time box next to each (15m, 30m, 60m). Remove the longest or most ambiguous item and move it to a “Not-This-Week” note in Stoic. End your entry with a quick check: • Is it small? • Is it scheduled? • Is it specific? If any answer is no, refine it. This keeps the week doable and protects momentum while honoring limits.

Journaling Idea - On To-do Lists.

Make a to-do list (of at most 5 things) for the next week. Then remove one.

What made you choose this one? Is this something you can choose not to do this week?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

May 17, 2023

Journal in Stoic

HowTo=target

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking to learn moreabout emotions?

Find hundreds of quotes, affirmations, lessons, guided journals, and so much more in stoic.

Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

Make a to-do list (of at most 5 things) for the next week. Then remove one.

Join the Minimal Newsletter

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you think about this?

How do you think about this?

How do you think about this?

Looking to learn moreabout emotions?

More prompts on On To-do Lists