2 min readTake Control of Your “Someday” Pile
by Guy Gage | July 21, 2025 | Business, Leadership, Personal Management
No matter the form, the result is the same: distraction.
These pending tasks may seem insignificant, but their cumulative impact is anything but. They quietly chip away at your focus. You can’t fully let them go because you don’t want to forget them—so instead, your brain keeps pinging you with reminders. That persistent mental interruption diverts energy and attention away from the work that truly matters.
The Hidden Cost of Postponement
Ever wonder how your “someday” pile got so high? Reflect for a moment:
- How long have you been avoiding tasks you know you should do?
- How many times have you told yourself you’d get to it “tomorrow”?
- What internal justifications have helped you kick the can down the road?
Some common ones:
- I’m not in the mood.
- I’ll do it later.
- It’s not that important.
- No one will notice if I don’t.
- No one will care if I don’t.
These rationalizations may buy you temporary relief, but they often come at the cost of long-term productivity – and peace of mind.
A Simple System to Get Ahead
Over the years, our clients—and yes, I—have found this five-step process surprisingly effective in clearing the pile. Steps 2 and 3, in particular, are game changers. This process begins with us saying, “ENOUGH! The time is now.”
1. Organize
Take inventory of the tasks. Get them all in one place—physically or digitally—and arrange them in priority order.
Estimate how much time each task will take. You’ll be surprised how many items can be knocked out in under 20 minutes.3. Calendar
Schedule a couple of items on your calendar each week. Spread them out over the next few weeks. When it’s scheduled, it’s real.4. Discipline
Stick to your schedule. Unless a true emergency arises, treat these time blocks as non-negotiable. You’ve delayed long enough.
5. Avoid (Adding More)
While you’re clearing your backlog, be intentional about not creating a new one. For a short while, this might mean working double-time—but soon, you’ll be managing these small tasks like other high performers: with speed, clarity, and control.
Reclaim Your Focus
Mental clutter is a hidden tax as stress on your wellbeing and productivity. The sooner you take control of your pile, the more energy you’ll free up for strategic thinking, creativity, and performance. You don’t need to conquer the whole list in one sitting. But with a plan—and commitment—you can finally move from avoidance to action.
Here’s to a productive week, one cleared item at a time.
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