My Tasks Feel Like Mountains by Nell Harris

This story addresses the notion of task paralysis and overwhelm and some strategies that we can engage to help us get through it, using cleaning a bedroom as the primary reference (as it’s not everyone’s mountain, but it’s a common one).

It begins by acknowledging that ‘just doing it’ is so much easier said than done for some of us, and how it can really feel endless. Then exploring breaking the task down into smaller parts, adding some dopamine to the situation through music (I love to audiobook while I clean the house - gets me in my deep thought state), including a timer to combat that endless feeling, having an ‘accountabilibuddy’ (my word for body doubling), working together or in tandem, and to not beat ourselves up over struggling with what is stereotyped as an easy task.

But.

Like all my stories, I will never claim this to be a ‘solver’ or the complete answer - I am completely open and honest that this story was the victim to my own task paralysis and overwhelm. My books are conversation openers. The biggest win I get is not someone replicating the actions my books and it working for them the same way it does for me, instead talking about what and where the hurdles show up and exploring what works for you and what doesn’t to got over or around them.

If you are still here reading and were wondering what my biggest mountain is? It’s folding the washing. Washing the clothes? No dramas. Hanging the washing out? Easy. Bringing it in when it’s dry? No problem-o. Folding it? All the dramas, all the problem-o’s.

Self-published and printed at an independent publisher.

20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in) in size

Paperback, full colour premium