How to cross items off your holiday list and avoid ‘task paralysis’

PLAINEVILLE, Mass. — There are just six days left until Christmas—and a lot of us will be running errands, getting those last-minute items—or some of us might just be starting! Either way, it can be a stressful time of year, crossing off that never-ending list. Some of us might be suffering from “task paralysis.”

You better watch out…

“I’m just looking for my mom, sister, dad now,” said Cassie Carnathan of North Attleboro.

You better not cry…

“I think we’re going to make it before it’s panic time in like a couple of days,” said Michael Bieke of Mansfield.

Santa is coming whether you’re ready or not.

“Definitely trying to get Christmas done before, you know, two days before when the dads start dropping in,” said Julie Boudreau of Plainville.

Lately, many of us are feeling overwhelmed with work, home life, and the never-ending to do list--especially around the holidays. We asked shoppers in Plainville if they had any strategies to get it all done.

“I don’t,” said Boudreau. “But if anyone has any tips, I’d take them.”

From the groceries to the gifts to the gatherings, there’s so much to do, so little time, and we don’t know where to start. Often times, instead of acting, we just freeze.

“It’s a very familiar feeling of overwhelm that we get when there are just too many things on our plate,” said Ellen Hendriksen, a clinical assistant professor at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.

Hendriksen has some tips to snap you out of that ‘task paralysis’ and get you moving to accomplish some of those daunting tasks. The first is turn down your stress levels.

“Which is hard to do during the holiday, but to really jettison tasks that we don’t need to do or to make sure we take care of ourselves, then it becomes easier to manage those emotions and they are less overwhelming,” said Hendriksen.

Next, she suggests to start strategically--by tackling your smallest or easiest task first. And don’t be afraid to delegate to other family members.

“So by accumulating some small wins, it really gets the ball rolling and gives us some momentum,” said Hendriksen.

As you work to cross items off your list, Hendriksen suggests removing distractions like scrolling through social media—which can lead to procrastination. And set realistic blocks of time to accomplish your goals.

“Just try to chip away as opposed to giving yourself like a clear afternoon or some long period of time that’s unlikely to actually show up,” said Hendriksen.

Hendriksen hopes her suggestions will help people prioritize what’s important to them during the holidays…and instead of stressing over it—find ways to enjoy it.

“Try to remember just to, you know, enjoy the season, have a Christmas movie on doing some cocoa while doing that and make it fun,” said Kelly Artamonov, a shopper in Plainville.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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