To-not-do list

1. Go to church (didn't);
2. Take walk at Alumni Creek, do qigong by the water (didn't);
3. Buy new bike tire, fix flat, go for ride (didn't);
4. Sort through boxes stored in garage: (a) bring in desk supplies, (b) clear space, set up shelves, unpack books, (c) arrange tools on bench where accessible (didn't);
5. Prune stray limbs off maple, pear, and apple trees (didn't);
6. Set (3) posts to reinforce woodshed (didn't);
7. Rewire light fixture in laundry room (didn't).
8. Write exhaustive list of other things that should be done (didn't).

Ever have one of those days when you don't feel like doing anything? You barely get started on a project and find out it can't be done until something else is done first, but the something else requires someone else to do something, so neither thing gets done. Or you get organized to begin another task but are interrupted by something else and never get back to the first task, then lose interest altogether.

On those days, I find it helpful to make a to-not-do list. It's easy. Just write down and, if you're really ambitious, prioritize all the things you would do today if you were going to do anything. Go into as much detail as you feel is necessary to adequately articulate the nature of the task to not do, but don't get bogged down in minutae. Above all, be creative. Let your mind range as far afield as it wants to in identifying the bounteous store of things that could be done (or not). It's highly therapeutic, and hey, it's something to do.

Postscript: I did accomplish a couple of things eventually. I read three sections of the Sunday Times, I watched a few minutes of the Sixers-Timberwolves game on TV (both teams looked bad), and later a few minutes of the Seattle-Carolina game (Seahawks dominated early) and the Steelers-Broncos game. Gotta love the Steelers rolling into Detroit with the old running back and the young quarterback. I'd call that a highly productive day.