Multitasking sounds like a superpower, but most of the time it’s really task switching—jumping back and forth so fast we don’t notice the cost. In this episode, we talk about the difference between true multitasking and rapid switching, and why switching can make you less effective, less productive, and less present.

We also share a few real-life examples (knitting while watching TV, exercising with an audiobook, checking email mid-writing) and a simple “Good Enough” experiment: using tiny waiting moments—like a login screen—as a cue to take a few breaths and come back to what you’re doing.

1. 01:28 — When multitasking can work: knitting while watching TV (and why writing postcards while watching is different).
2. 03:33 — A combo that often works: physical tasks (folding laundry, exercising) while listening to an audiobook (or podcast!).
3. 04:29 — Why switching tasks can make you less productive than single-tasking.
4. 05:47 — The “attention test”: if both tasks need brain power (like sorting and chatting), something gets missed.
5. 06:45 — Phone + conversation: noticing how it affects connection, and small ways to be more present with people.
6. 10:22 — The “lag reflex”: switching away during a short wait (like logging into a bank) and getting pulled into email or Facebook.
7. 11:08 — A simple strategy: practice staying with a few seconds of discomfort so you can finish the task.
8. 13:01 — Meditation explained in plain terms: not “no thoughts,” but returning to your focus.
9. 14:42 — Anchoring mindfulness to your desk chair: building calm where you actually work.
10. 15:44 — Shannon shares how ADHD can amplify distraction and unfinished tasks (especially off meds).
11. 17:13 — Reframing single-tasking as self-care: more calm, more “done,” and less stress.

1. Most multitasking is really task switching: If you’re bouncing between email, a document, and social media, you’re not doing three things at once—you’re switching. And switching often makes everything take longer.
2. Some pairings can be “good enough” multitasking: If one task is automatic or physical (like knitting, folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher, brushing your teeth), it may pair well with listening.
3. If both tasks require attention, you’ll feel scattered: Sorting, writing, and meaningful conversations all need focus. Trying to stack them usually means you’re only half there.
4. Use waiting moments as a mindfulness cue: Instead of opening Facebook during a 10-second pause, try three slow breaths or counting breaths until the page loads.
5. Single-tasking is self-care (and it feels better): Finishing one thing at a time can lower stress and give you that satisfying sense of completion.

Multitasking promises efficiency, but for most of us it’s really rapid, less efficient task switching—and it can leave you feeling scattered and less present. A “Good Enough” approach is choosing one thing at a time more often, and using tiny pauses to return to your focus.

Listener Action: Choose one “waiting moment” this week (like logging into a website). Instead of switching to email or social media, take 3 slow breaths and gently bring your attention back to the task in front of you.

• YouTube link - Watch the conversation on YouTube!

Episode 26: Multitasking If multitasking is your default setting (and it sometimes works… until it doesn’t), this is our original episode on the subject. We talk about why multitasking feels productive, when it can actually be fine, and when it’s really just task switching that leaves you more frazzled than finished.

Episode 27: The Thrill of Done You know that satisfying feeling when you finish something and it stops taking up space in your brain? This episode is all about that. We share simple ways to make “done” easier to reach—especially if perfectionism tends to move the finish line.

Episode 84: Overthinking The multitasking may be coming from inside your brain! If your brain likes to keep running the same thought loop, you’re not alone. We talk about how overthinking sneaks in (especially with perfectionist tendencies), and how to step out of the spin cycle and into the next small, doable action.

We’d love to hear what multitasking looks like in your real life—and what happens when you try single-tasking instead. Leave us a voicemail at 413-424-GTGE (4843) or find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @gettingtogoodenough.

If you enjoyed the episode, please consider sharing the podcast with a friend, and rating or reviewing us on your favorite podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show and means so much to us!

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re not alone. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like when what’s happening in the world takes up more of our bandwidth than we realize—and how that can show up as low energy, stress, and doomscrolling.

We remind ourselves that even when we’re not personally in immediate danger, it still takes real energy to be in the world right now. So we explore a good-enough approach: set kind-but-firm boundaries around news and social media, calm your nervous system first, and then choose one small action you can actually sustain.

1. 00:45 - Feeling overwhelmed and “maxed out,” and naming the nervous system impact
2. 01:10 - Remembering to factor in what’s happening in the world (on top of personal stressors)
3. 02:43 - How external stress compresses our capacity and bandwidth—even if we’re not directly threatened
4. 03:51 - The push-pull of wanting to stay informed without getting pulled into constant news consumption
5. 05:34 - Creating a container for the news: skim headlines, read one article, or set a 15-minute timer
6. 06:57 - Choosing your inputs on purpose: unfollowing/unfriending and skipping online arguments that won’t lead to real dialogue
7. 10:37 - Taking action to feel less helpless: donating, writing postcards, protesting, and focusing your energy where it can matter
8. 12:53 - Not letting perfectionism hijack activism: it’s not all-or-nothing, and “doing a little” still counts
9. 14:26 - Connection over consumption: reaching out to friends and checking in instead of scrolling
10. 16:23 - “Oxygen mask first”: calming your nervous system makes it easier to take meaningful action and help others

1. External stress is real stress: Even if nothing in your personal life changed, what’s happening in the world can shrink your capacity.
2. Set boundaries so you can stay informed (without spiraling): A small “container”—headlines only, one article, or a timer—helps you avoid doomscrolling.
3. Curate your inputs like it’s self-care: Unfollowing, unfriending, and choosing what you engage with can protect your nervous system.
4. Small actions beat perfectionism: Donating, writing postcards, protesting, or helping in your community doesn’t have to be perfect to matter.
5. Calm first, then act: When you feel steadier, it’s easier to take meaningful action.

When everything feels like too much, it makes sense that your energy is lower and your brain wants to scroll, worry, or shut down. In this episode, we remind ourselves that we can care and protect our nervous systems: set a boundary around what you take in, then choose one small action that helps you feel less helpless—without letting perfectionism turn it into a moral test.

Listener Action: This week, pick one boundary (like a 15-minute news timer or “one article only”) and one small action (text a friend to check in, donate a few dollars, write one postcard, etc.). Good enough counts.

• Watch the episode on YouTube - You can watch us have this conversation on YouTube, if you'd like.
• Ben Sheehan, host of Civics Made Easy, on Instagram: Calling members of Congress WORKS. With such thin majorities for the GOP you’d only need to convince a handful of members to vote across the aisle — and we’ve already seen that happen this year. Don’t let anyone tell you that pressure doesn’t work - we’ve already seen proof that it does. And if you’re concerned about ICE, you might wanna call your Democratic members of the Senate and tell them to force changes to the agency in exchange for their vote — or even withhold their vote to temporarily shut down ICE.
• Find Your Members in the U.S. Congress

If you try a good-enough boundary or a small action this week, we’d love to hear what you chose.

Leave us a voicemail at 413-424-GTGE (4843) or find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @gettingtogoodenough. If you enjoyed the episode, please consider sharing the podcast with a friend, and rating or reviewing us on your favorite podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show and means so much to us!

1. Episode 107: Balancing Discomfort — This episode is from a moment when there was a lot happening in the world, and we talk about how to hold the discomfort and keep moving forward. We share what helped us stay grounded, and how taking one small step can be more sustainable than trying to do everything at once.
2. Episode 108: Ready to Vote? — If voting has ever felt oddly stressful—like you need to do it perfectly or you’ll mess it up—this episode will feel familiar. We get practical about making a simple plan, shrinking the dread, and following through.
3. Episode 264: How to Enjoy Social Media Again — This is the social media episode we mention in today’s conversation. We dig into comparisonitis, doomscrolling, and some very doable ways to curate your feed and set boundaries so you can stay connected without feeling consumed.

This week we’re getting real about that all-too-familiar feeling behind—whether it’s your to-do list, New Year’s intentions, or just life in general. We talk about what rushing actually looks like in our lives, why it rarely helps with time management, and how our culture’s obsession with busyness (and perfectionism) can make us feel like we’re never caught up. We share how we’re reframing what progress looks like, the thrill of finishing tasks, and how to choose a smoother, more self-compassionate pace (even when life feels hectic).

• 00:44: That creeping feeling behind—why it shows up so quickly
• 01:59: The power of finishing dreaded tasks (and a British-accented banker named Jaunty)
• 03:13: Carrying over tasks week to week—and the relief of clearing the decks
• 05:01: How finishing little tasks clears space for bigger goals
• 05:35: The magic of a “power hour”
• 06:19: The myth of being behind and the dangers of rushing
• 08:47: Unrealistic expectations and honoring your own pace
• 09:28: Letting our priorities (and word of the year!) guide our choices
• 13:11: Setting boundaries around work and personal time
• 15:13: Mornings, rushing, and the wisdom of “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”
• 17:10: How choosing your pace can change everything

• The feeling behind is often a myth—there’s no universal timeline we should be on.
• Clearing small tasks can free up mental space for bigger goals and better time management.
• Rushing rarely saves time and often leads to mistakes or missing out on good things.
• Boundaries (like not working weekends) help us enjoy both work and rest.
• We get to choose our pace—let our values and priorities lead the way, with a little self-compassion.

You’re not actually behind—there’s no official schedule you have to follow. Let go of the rush and find a pace that works for you, right now.

Do you tend to feel behind? What helps you bring more ease and smoothness into your days?

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Episode 41: Can It Be Too Easy? We talk about why letting things be easy sometimes feels so strange, and how giving ourselves permission to choose the easier path can actually help us move forward—especially when we’re feeling behind or overwhelmed.

Episode 60: The Problem with Labels Oh, those labels we put on ourselves—like “behind” or “not enough”—and how those stories can keep us stuck. If you’re working on being kinder to yourself, you’ll find some encouragement and maybe a laugh or two.

Episode 156: Feeling Good About Good Enough We get honest about how tough it can be to stop chasing perfection and start feeling good about “good enough.” If you’re learning to embrace progress and let go of unrealistic expectations, this episode is for you.

Happy New Year! If decision-making tends to turn into overthinking, you’re not alone. In this episode, we share a good-enough approach to easier decision-making—plus the maximizer vs. satisficer mindset and our “rule of three.”

Shannon shares her word of the year for 2026: choose—a reminder to make decisions on purpose instead of feeling swept along. We also dig into the difference between being a maximizer (always trying to make the best choice) and a satisficer (making a good enough choice and moving on), plus a few practical ways to stop the endless research spiral.

Along the way, Janine shares a big decision she made on her personal retreat: retiring her blog Organize Your Family History—and the surprisingly overwhelming chain of choices that followed.

1. 01:25 Looking back at 2025 and asking: what do we want 2026 to look like?
2. 02:16 Word of the year as an anchor (and why “survive” doesn’t feel great)
3. 03:06 Shannon’s word for 2026: choose (making decisions on purpose)
4. 04:33 Maximizer vs. satisficer: why decision-making can feel so hard
5. 06:43 Too many options = no decision (hello, Amazon overwhelm)
6. 09:52 Janine’s personal retreat + deciding to retire Organize Your Family History
7. 11:52 Writing it down + talking it through (pros/cons, getting support)
8. 12:40 The “rule of three”: choose up to three criteria (and/or options) and stop researching
9. 16:28 “Just in case” thinking: flexibility vs. clutter (and the hidden cost of keeping things)
10. 20:35 Making “for now” decisions with a time frame so you can stop thinking about it

1. Choosing on purpose can feel energizing. It’s a way to be more active in your life instead of always reacting.
2. Maximizers often get stuck. If you’re trying to find the “best” option, decision-making can become exhausting (and sometimes you don’t decide at all).
3. Satisficing is very “good enough.” Pick a few criteria that matter, choose something that meets them, and move on.
4. Try the rule of three. Limit yourself to three criteria and/or three options to reduce overwhelm.
5. Open loops cost energy. Not deciding can keep a decision quietly draining your attention.
6. A time-bound decision can create flexibility without constant rethinking. Decide “for now,” set a revisit date, and let your brain rest.

The next time you’re stuck in a decision spiral (especially for something low-consequence):

1. Write down up to three criteria that actually matter.
2. Look at up to three options.
3. Choose the first option that meets your criteria—and stop researching.

1. Episode 102: The Good Enough Decision We talk about why decision-making can feel extra hard for perfectionists, and how the maximizer vs. satisficer mindset shows up in real life. If you liked our conversation about choosing “for now” and saving your energy for what matters, this one is a great companion.
2. Episode 103: Dealing with Imperfectionists An exploration about what happens when a maximizer and a satisficer are trying to make a decision together (and how to communicate what matters most). It’s a practical listen if you’re trying to choose with more clarity—especially when other people are involved.
3. Episode 156: Feeling Good About Good Enough We share how to get more comfortable stopping at good enough (without that nagging “but what if there’s a better option?” feeling). If you’re working on letting go of over-optimizing and moving on with your life, we think you’ll love this one.

We’d love to hear from you—how do you choose to move through your life? What decisions are you making in 2026?

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

• YouTube link - If you'd like to watch the conversation click here!

If you heard something that makes your life just a little bit easier, we’d love it if you’d leave a review or share this episode with someone who’s looking for their own version of good enough.

It’s the end of the day, you’re tired and hungry, and you’re standing in front of the refrigerator hoping it will offer a suggestion...again. In this episode, we talk about why dinner can feel so complicated (even when food is readily available) and how a little “good enough” planning can make weeknights calmer.

Meal planning isn’t just about food—it’s about reducing decision fatigue at the exact moment you have the least energy. We share simple, realistic ways to make dinner easier, including curating recipe lists, theme nights, planned takeout, freezer meals, and low-effort fallback dinners.

What We Talk About

1. 03:00 The “stare into the fridge and hope something occurs to us” problem
2. 04:20 Why being hungry is the worst time to decide what’s for dinner
3. 05:38 Shannon’s Trello-based meal planning system
4. 08:20 Theme nights (Taco Tuesday and beyond) to reduce decision fatigue
5. 09:19 Planned takeout night = guilt-free and actually enjoyable
6. 10:31 Freezer meals (hello, chili) for low-energy seasons
7. 16:59 The power of a super-easy fallback dinner
8. 19:05 Let go of “shoulds” and feed yourself (and your household) in a way that works

Key Takeaways

1. Decision fatigue is real. Dinner gets harder when you’re tired and hungry—so the goal is fewer decisions at the end of the day.
2. Curate your options. Whether it’s a Trello recipe board or a white board of go-to meals, narrowing choices makes planning easier.
3. Theme nights reduce stress. A theme gives you a lane (not a strict rule) and makes “What’s for dinner?” easier to answer.
4. Plan takeout on purpose. Planned takeout can be relaxing and guilt-free; panic takeout is usually stressful and expensive.
5. Have a fallback. Scrambled eggs, breakfast for dinner, or a snack-plate style meal can keep you fed when plans fall apart.
6. Let it be “good enough.” You don’t need perfect dinners—just food that works for you.

Try This:

Pick one small change for next week:

1. Choose one theme night (like Taco-ish, Pasta-ish, Soup-ish, or Takeout Night).
2. Pick one fallback dinner you can make when you’re low on energy.

• Trello | Capture, organize, and tackle your to-dos from anywhere
• Souper Cubes® - Silicone Food Freezer Trays & Kitchen Accessories

Connect With Us

We’d love to hear from you: What are you going to incorporate into your meal planning—theme nights, a go-to meal, or something else?

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Want More Like This? (Related Episodes)

1. Episode 209: Meal Planning - The OG episode on meal planning! Some similar topics, some different.
2. Episode 212: A Little at a Time - If you like the idea of a calmer dinner routine but you’re not about to overhaul your whole life, we share how building systems gradually can make change feel doable. This episode was inspired by our first (Episode 209) meal planning episode.
3. Episode 16: Decision Making - We dig into why decisions can feel so draining—and how making “good enough” choices on purpose can reduce stress and help you move forward.

We kick this episode off with a very real-life moment: Janine opened the refrigerator right before recording and realized it was past time for the dreaded clean-out… again. (You know the one—mystery containers, missing storage bowls, and the hope that nothing has started to smell.)

That prompts a conversation about procrastination—why we do it, what’s actually happening underneath it, and how we can move through it with more compassion and way less drama.

We also share one universal strategy that helps no matter what: figure out what feels bad about the task… and then counteract that.

00:54 The refrigerator clean-out avoidance (and why we wait until it smells). “You wait until the pain of opening the refrigerator is greater than the perceived pain of cleaning it out.”

02:07 To clarify: we’re not “above” procrastination—we’ve procrastinated in every possible way

03:12 Janine’s procrastination trigger: fear of something being unpleasant (phone calls, hold music, hoops)

06:39 The core strategy: identify the bad feeling and counteract it

07:50 The 4 productivity blocks that lead to procrastination: enjoyment, reward, distractibility, confidence

08:33 Why you tend to procrastinate for the same reason most of the time (but it can vary)

16:09 Shannon’s procrastination tends to be distractibility + lack of confidence. She shares her late adulthood ADHD diagnosis and how it changed things for her

17:45 Bottom line: you procrastinate to avoid feeling bad—and choose to do something that feels better instead

1. Why we wait until a task becomes unbearable (hello, refrigerator)
2. How procrastination is often our brain trying to dodge an unpleasant feeling (not laziness)
3. The four productivity blocks that lead to procrastination: Enjoyment, Reward, Distractibility, Confidence
4. Why we tend to procrastinate for the same reason most of the time (even though tasks can vary)
5. Why celebrating small wins can build momentum
6. How ADHD and distractibility can show up as trying to “set the scene perfectly” before starting

There is a formula to productivity and procrastination. In this episode we talk about the four “productivity blocks” that tend to contribute to procrastination:

1. Enjoyment: You expect the task to be unpleasant (or boring), so you avoid it.
2. Reward: There’s not enough payoff to get you started.
3. Distractibility: Your attention keeps getting pulled to other tasks, thoughts, or inputs.
4. Confidence: You’re not sure how to do the task, or you don’t feel confident you can do it well.

While there are specific strategies for each block (take the quiz at shannonwilkinson.com to learn them), there's a big universal move: identify the bad feeling you’re avoiding—and counteract it (even just enough to start).

Start by asking: What feels bad about this task? Then counteract that feeling on purpose.

A few “good enough” ways to do that:

1. Add a little enjoyment (music, a funny podcast, a 10-minute challenge, doing it with someone)
2. Use rewards (small reward for starting, bigger reward for finishing—maybe one in the middle)
3. Reduce distractibility (write down competing thoughts, pick one thing, remove distractions, set a timer—even 5 minutes helps)
4. Build confidence (get information if you don’t know how; practice stepping into the feeling of confidence before you take action)

Procrastination can show up for lots of reasons, and in this episode we’re careful not to treat it like a character flaw. One of the productivity blocks we talk about is distractibility, and Shannon shares how her ADHD diagnosis a couple of years ago changed her understanding of what was going on for her.

So yes—ADHD and distractibility can absolutely be part of the procrastination picture for some people. And even if ADHD isn’t part of your story, the same core strategy still applies: figure out the bad feeling and counteract it, then start with a tiny first step.

Pick one thing we’ve been putting off and ask:

1. What bad feeling are we trying to avoid? (Boredom? Discomfort? Fear of messing it up? Overwhelm?)
2. Which productivity block is showing up—enjoyment, reward, distractibility, or confidence?
3. What would counteract that feeling—just enough to help us start?

Then set a timer for 5 minutes and do the smallest possible first step.

• Shannon’s procrastination quiz (and workbook) - Take Shannon's two-minute procrastination quiz to find out your productivity block is!
• YouTube - Click here to watch the episode!

We’d love to hear from you: How do you procrastinate? Where do you get stuck when you’re putting things off?

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

1. Episode 12: Procrastination — The original breakdown of the productivity blocks/reasons we procrastinate + strategies to move through them.
2. Episode 36: Feeling Satisfied — A perfect companion for the “good enough” mindset that reduces perfectionism paralysis and helps you move forward without needing it to be flawless.
3. Episode 67: Dealing with Distraction — Directly supports the focus/distractibility side of procrastination with practical strategies (timers, closing open loops, minimizing distractions).

Procrastination isn’t a moral failing—it’s information. When you can name what feels bad about a task and identify the productivity block underneath it (enjoyment, reward, distractibility, or confidence), it gets a whole lot easier to take the next step. Be sure and check out the quiz at shannonwilkinson.com to get more detailed strategies for your particular brand of procrastination.

What if the “secret to happiness” is…doing a small, slightly uncomfortable thing now—so tomorrow (and next week… and tax season) feels easier?

In this episode, we talk about what we’re calling the discomfort dividend: the idea that a little effort, inconvenience, or mild discomfort in the present can pay you back later with more ease, less stress, and better momentum.

We share real-life examples—like writing down our “Big Three” the night before, building a simple dishwasher routine, staying on top of bookkeeping and payroll, and freezing meals for future dinners—and we explore why doing things as they happen is often dramatically easier than trying to “catch up” later.

If you’re craving a calmer week, smoother mornings, or fewer “why did I wait so long?” moments, this one’s for you.

1. 01:07 We report back: writing down the “Big Three” the night before is paying dividends
2. 02:13 “Less than five minutes” at night can save an hour of morning dithering
3. 03:10 The “accountabilibuddy” moment (and how it helps us remember)
4. 05:01 The “night before” effort: why setting up tomorrow-us matters
5. 08:03 Anchors and routines: coffee as a cue (and why not everyone has a morning beverage anchor)
6. 10:15 Bookkeeping as a discomfort dividend: weekly QuickBooks + daily YNAB makes tax time easier
7. 11:19 Doing it in the moment vs. figuring it out later (hello, mysterious Amazon purchases)
8. 13:02 Freezer meals as future-us support: batch cooking and portioning for easy, healthy dinners
9. 16:06 “Thank your past self”: noticing the payoff when the future arrives
10. 17:05 Putting things away: the ease of being able to find what we need, when we need it

1. Small effort now can create big ease later. The payoff is often time, energy, and reduced stress.
2. Doing things “as they happen” is usually easier than catching up. In the moment, we still have context—later we’re stuck reconstructing.
3. Cornerstone habits create momentum. Once one routine is solid (like the dishwasher), other habits become easier to build.
4. Make it automatic. Repetition turns “extra effort” into something we don’t even have to think about.
5. Design your environment for success. A place for everything (and putting it away) reduces daily friction.

A little discomfort today can buy you a lot of ease tomorrow. The trick is spotting the small actions that feel mildly annoying now—but consistently make life smoother later.

Pick one small thing you can do today as a favor for future you—then try it for a week.

Some ideas from this episode:

1. Write down your “Big Three” the night before
2. Run the dishwasher at night and unload it in the morning
3. Enter bookkeeping transactions weekly (or daily if you can)
4. Put keys in the same spot every time
5. Freeze a couple portions the next time you cook

• YouTube - Watch the episode

If this episode hit home, you might also like:

1. Episode 153: Helping Your Future Self - Same core idea as the discomfort dividend: doing small, “good enough” things now so future-you has an easier time.
2. Episode 151: Task Management Revisited - A practical companion to the “write it down / decide in advance” vibe of Episode 275, with a focus on finding a task system that works for you (not chasing the perfect system).
3. Episode 150: Creating Helpful Work Boundaries - This connects to the “make life easier later” theme by creating clear start/stop rituals and boundaries that reduce daily friction and decision fatigue (and make tomorrow smoother).

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

If this episode made your life a little easier, we’d love it if you’d leave a review, share it with a friend, or send us a message with the small “discomfort dividend” you’re trying right now.

Have you ever finished a big task and felt that rush of relief—like, ahhh, I’m finally caught up—and then… immediately noticed ten more things waiting for you? Same.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the productivity myth of “catching up,” why it can feel so urgent (and so exhausting), and how it connects to perfectionism and productivity.

Starting in the middle of an “atmospheric river” (aka endless rain), we talk about a surprisingly satisfying homeowner win: Shannon and Mike installed a French drain that finally solved a long-standing sidewalk flooding problem. It felt amazing to cross it off the list… until the list refilled (as it always does).

We explore where the pressure to catch up comes from and what it might look like to let go of the whole concept. We also talk about doing things for enjoyment (without deadlines or milestones), and Janine shares a simple practice that helps her feel less behind: writing down her “Big Three” tasks the night before.

What we talk about

• Why the endless to-do list can make us feel perpetually behind
• How “catching up” can be perfectionism in disguise
• Letting go of tasks (or at least letting go of the pressure around them)
• Doing things for enjoyment vs. doing them to hit milestones
• A practical tool for focus: the “Big Three”

Timestamped highlights 

01:25 — Rain garden overflow + the French drain fix

03:16 — That brief “we’re caught up!” feeling after a big win

04:02 — Do we ever actually feel caught up?

05:04 — Letting go of the whole concept of catching up

06:11 — Retirement as a glimpse of a different pace

09:42 — SMART goals vs. a “word of the year”

11:10 — Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies (and motivation)

12:26 — Unfinished knitting projects and “good enough” outcomes

15:06 — Janine’s “Big Three” practice (and why it helps)

19:16 — Shannon’s experiment: trying the Big Three (plus accountability)

Key takeaways

• “Caught up” is a moving target. The list refills fast, so chasing that finish line can keep you stressed.
• The idea of getting caught-up is a productivity myth. It promises relief, but is virtually unattainable creating extra pressure and self-criticism.
• Perfectionism and striving for high productivity are closely linked. Wanting to “finally be caught up” can be perfectionism in a different outfit.
• Small constraints can create calm. Choosing a short list (like three priorities) can reduce overwhelm and increase follow-through.

Bottom line

We don’t have to earn peace by finishing everything. If “caught up” doesn’t really exist, we can stop chasing it—and start noticing what we have done instead (and celebrating it!).

Try this for the next few days:

1. Write down your Big Three tasks for tomorrow.
2. Ask yourself: If I only do these three things, would that be good enough?
3. Notice what shifts—your focus, stress level, maybe even that feeling of being “behind”.

And we’d love to hear from you: What’s one thing you do (or could do) that helps you feel less behind—without trying to do everything?

Connect with us

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Want more like this?

If you enjoyed this conversation about the pressure to catch up and the endless to-do list, you might also like:

• Episode 261: Morning Routines That Actually Stick (Even When They Don’t) — A practical, realistic look at routines that support you (instead of stressing you out). This is where Janine’s “Big Three” habit comes from, so it’s a great companion listen.
• Episode 92: Working Through a Backlog — A next-step episode for when the pileups are real: ideas for working through backlogs without getting stuck in the catch-up cycle.
• Episode 61: You’re Not Behind — If the “behind” feeling is familiar, this episode helps reframe it so it becomes a helpful signal (not a source of shame).

Mentioned in this episode

• YouTube - Link to watch the episode on YouTube
• Getting Started: The Four Tendencies | Gretchen Rubin

Ever catch yourself waiting for the “perfect” moment before you start something new? In this episode, Shannon and Janine break down how embracing imperfection, self-compassion, and progress over perfection can help you finally take that first step—no matter how messy it feels.

• 01:45: The myth of readiness—how perfectionism and waiting for the “right time” keep us stuck 
• 03:49: Real-life stories about starting new habits and projects; using a “practice” mindset to overcome perfectionism paralysis 
• 09:55: Letting go of backlog overwhelm; strategies for progress over perfection in planning 
• 11:18: The power of feelings—how self-compassion and embodying confidence help you take action 
• 17:50: The four Cs: Calm, Competent, Capable, and Confident—tools for building new habits and self-trust 

• Waiting until everything is perfect can keep you stuck—tiny, imperfect steps are the key to building momentum and beating perfectionism.
• Treat new habits and projects as experiments, not final exams. There’s no single “right way” to begin.
• Letting go of the need to catch up or finish everything first frees you to start now.
• Feeling good and confident before you act makes it easier to move forward.
• It’s okay to start again, and again—every action is a fresh beginning and a chance for self-compassion.

Bottom Line

You don’t need all the answers to get started. Progress comes from action, not from waiting for perfection. Start where you are, be kind to yourself, and let the rest unfold as you go.

What’s something you’ve been waiting to start? Try taking just one small, imperfect step this week—even if it’s messy. Share your story with us! We’d love to hear how you’re embracing progress over perfection and building new habits.

Connect With Us

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Want More?

• Feeling Good About Good Enough - We talk about how getting comfortable with stopping at “good enough” (instead of chasing perfection) is a journey, but one that’s so worth it. You’ll hear how we each learned to embrace progress, question perfectionist thoughts, and truly feel good about what’s reasonable.
• Start Simple - We explore the beauty and challenge of taking a simple approach to starting something new. We share stories about how starting simple can help you actually get going—even when you’re a perfectionist.

From the Great British Bake Off to quirky comedies and riveting thrillers, creative crafts, and lots of reading, we’re diving into all the things that have been adding a little comfort and fun to our days. We chat about the shows making us smile (and cover our eyes), the joy of audiobooks and how they fit into our routines, and the satisfaction of rediscovering cozy knitting projects. We also reflect on recovery, adapting to life’s changes, and how leaning into simple pleasures—especially during colder months—can make everything feel a bit brighter. Join us for a relaxed conversation about embracing what feels good right now and finding joy in the everyday.

• 01:30 | Great British Bake Off love—why it’s comforting, the junior version, and the joy of British competition shows
• 05:33 | British slang discoveries (“pants” is a swear?)
• 07:18 | TV recommendations: thrillers and “palate cleansers”
• 13:33 | Audiobook routines: Using the Libby app, reading with our ears, and how listening fits into daily life
• 17:04 | Knitting and crafting: Rediscovering old projects, using Ravelry, and the joy of making cozy things

• Gentle TV and books are comfort tools—a good palate cleanser after intense shows can work wonders.
• It’s okay to lean into what’s comforting and fun, especially during tough times.
• Small wins matter: Whether it’s finishing a knitting project, learning new slang, or finding a new favorite show, celebrate it.
• Trying new things (or revisiting old favorites) can spark unexpected joy.
• Community makes everything better: Sharing recommendations and hearing from friends (and listeners!) adds joy to the experience.

You don’t have to be productive every minute—sometimes, following your curiosity and indulging in simple pleasures is exactly what you need. Progress over perfection, always!

• YouTube - Here's the YouTube link if you'd like to watch the episode!

What are you into right now? We’d love to hear what’s bringing you joy, comfort, or just a little escape these days. Drop us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, leave us a voicemail at 413-424-GTGE (4843), or send us an email via our website!

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

• Episode 243: Are We Having Fun Yet? Having fun is important! We laugh our way through a conversation about how to prioritize fun, add joy to everyday life, and find delight in things like puzzles, dancing, and favorite TV shows.
• Episode 242: It's Okay to Be Imperfect We discuss how your value as a person has nothing to do with being perfect, and why embracing imperfection can actually make life more enjoyable and less stressful.
• Episode 148: Living with Less We explore how having less stuff can create more freedom and happiness, and why “less is more” can be the key to a lighter, more joyful life.