Thank you, Past Laura

Gist - when I look at my tasks for the week on Monday, I'm always so glad I didn't leave things from last week

Each Monday morning I set down at my desk and take a look at the coming week's tasks.

My plan is to spread them out over the days I'm working that week.

Occasionally there is a task on my list that is a carry-over from the past week.

It's generally one of those to-dos that I just don't want to do, even though it's important.

This morning, I saw one such task on my Monday list.

I remember sitting down to tackle it last Friday, getting halfway through it and thinking, "Ugh, this is boring. I'll just leave the rest for Monday."

Imagine my surprise when I went to finish it this morning, and realized I'd actually completed it on Friday but forgot to check it off.

My first thought was, "Thank you, Past Laura, for getting that done so Today Laura doesn't have to do it."

I notice that when I talk to myself using Past Laura, Today Laura, and Future Laura, I'm much more productive, grateful, and I give myself more grace when I fail.

Today Laura likes to think about all the things she can do to make Future Laura's life a bit nicer.

And, if Past Laura didn't quite get everything done, Today Laura gives her some grace and tries to understand the circumstances.

Maybe it's a bit weird to think of three versions of me, but it really works for me.

If you're up for it, give it a try and let me know how it works for you.