If you're a creative who wears a number of hats like I do and has a lonnnnng list of tasks to execute each day, I'm here to tell you (and myself!) that it's okay to get just one thing done each day!

That's right -- Just. One. Thing. Screw that long to-do list! Because, as Socrates reportedly said, "Beware the barrenness of a busy life." 

It's become my belief that giving yourself permission to get just one meaningful thing done a day (as opposed to squeezing in 5, 10 or 1,000 things, many of which are not meaningful) will make you just as productive in the end as you already are -- if not more so.

Doing just one thing a day can be as simple as sending a follow-up email to a person you met at a networking event, going out to dinner with a friend who needs company or showing yourself some love through 5-10 minutes of meditation.

With all the multi-tasking and "have to do's" we often pile on ourselves, we can quickly fall prey to stress, depression and illness. So, I'm here to tell you (and myself!) that you not only have permission to get just one thing done each day, but when you execute that one thing -- you have permission to feel really good about what you've accomplished! That this one action you took for the day? Yeah, it's SO enough! And also, think about this for a sec: If you do just one thing a day that means you've executed 7 things in a week, up to 31 things in a month and 356 things in a year! Dude, that's a lot of things! Not only that, but each of one of those actions has the chance to lead to other opportunities, new connections and positive returns for you on a practical level and for your well-being.

So, starting today, be mindful and thoughtful of what you ask of yourself each day. Look at your "I have to get all of these things done today otherwise I am a total failure" list, and if you don't have the time to do alllll of those things, don't stress! Take a few deep breaths, get some clarity and then pick just one thing from that list that you want to do, and do it. And that is enough for the day, my friend. Put a check in the win column cause you've earned it!

Below are three categories of some basic "just one thing" suggestions that make me feel pretty accomplished when I only have time to do one of them in a day. There's always tomorrow, or the next day or the day after that to do more than just one thing when you have more time. And don't be surprised if down the road you discover that giving yourself permission to do just one thing a day brings you greater peace, a more positive outlook and leads to more than just one great thing for you and your creative work. 

3 CATEGORIES OF EASY-BREEZY, MEANINGFUL & PRODUCTIVE "JUST ONE THING" A DAY IDEAS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER *

1. CAREER:
Attending a networking event · Sending a follow-up email to someone you met at a networking event · Tweaking your LinkedIn profile · Requesting a reference on LinkedIn · Tweaking your resume ·  Writing a new blog post · Updating content on your website · Researching website builders for your new site · Researching contests, retreats or other opportunities for your writing project · Touching base with an industry expert for advice · Catching up on industry updates and articles · Jotting down a new story or script idea · Writing three pages of a new scene or story or character development

2. KINDNESS TO OTHERS:
Sending a thank you email to someone who helped you · Donating to a cause · Volunteering to help a friend or an organization · Buying someone you don't know a cup of coffee · Offering to give someone a reference on LinkedIn · Offering your expertise to someone over email, a phone call or coffee 

3. SELF-CARE:
10-30 minutes of meditation · Massage · Yoga class · 30-minute run · Taking a snoozy afternoon nap · Losing yourself in a delightful book · Treating yourself to a nice dinner out or a delicious glass of wine or a feel-good movie or show · Soaking in a yummy Dr. Teals bubble bath before bed · Planning a vacation · Taking a quick, easy day trip or getaway · Dancing like a maniac in your living room · Taking a walk with no particular destination

* Got any other ideas to add to these categories? Feel free to leave them in the comments below, and I'll add 'em in!