How I manage my Anxiety & Depression with Ta-Done Lists

I know you have heard of To-Do Lists, but have you ever heard of a Ta-Done List? You should read that like this, TAA – DONNNNNNEEE!!!! This is a play on words, like when a child proudly presents their handiwork, “Ta-Da!!”. It’s like that, but the adult version, because you’re actually getting shit DONE.

What is a Ta-Done List?

It’s like a to-do list but instead of writing things the things to do, you write the things you have ALREADY DONE. You keep adding to the list throughout the day as you complete tasks or you write down everything you accomplished that day at the end. Pay special attention to the little things you do that aren’t on your “official” to-do list. Why is this important? Because there a many small things you do throughout the day that help make your world function, and you have to give credit where credit is due.

How does the Ta-Done List help anxiety and depression?

For me, the original to-do list helps me stay focused on the tasks at hand – instead of the tsunami of tasks that await me in the future. The Ta-Done list takes it further by allowing me to give myself credit for ALL the work I do, even those little things that aren’t on my to-do list. This helps my anxiety when I start to obsess with my productivity and I start to ask myself “WHAT DID YOU EVEN DO TODAY!????” I can point to my Ta-Done List and say, “THIS, TAAA-DONNNNE”. Mic Drop. My Brain: Speechless.

This helps me from spiraling into negative thoughts and full blown depression. Sometimes I still get bogged down with anxiety and depression. Somedays I can’t even fight the tsunami of tasks in my mind to do my lists, I just have to do the things. Somedays I keep working on yesterday’s list or maybe I work on one day’s list for the entire week (usually because I add way too many large tasks to one day). And you know what? THAT’S OKAY! This is meant to help me, I’m not going to beat myself up about the exact usage or frequency (or at least I’m trying not to).

When it comes to managing my mental health sometimes I have to get creative with solutions. Try different things. It’s important to be your own cheerleader. For me, being positive when your own brain is telling you something else can be really hard at times. I try to treat myself like I would a close friend. If I’m honest, I say things to myself that I would never say to another person, ever. So why the eff would I do that to myself? This was a game changer in managing my mental health. I can comfort myself with encouragement and kind words. I am my own friend. And take joy in the baby steps! Every. Single. Time.