Wellbeing Wednesday - Protect Your Energy
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The Idea of the To-Don't List and Pebbles in a Jar marry beautifully—like a minimalist planner and a wise mentor.
The To-Don't List and Pebbles-in-a-Jar metaphor both champion intentional subtraction to protect your energy and focus. Here's how they complement each other:
Pebbles First — Prioritise What Matters
The jar metaphor teaches us:
- Pebbles = high-value tasks (deep work, relationships, health)
- Sand = low-value tasks (busywork, distractions, obligations)
- If you fill your jar with sand first, the pebbles won’t fit.
This is about sequence: do what matters first, then let the rest fill in the gaps.
To-Don't List — Protect the Pebbles
The To-Don't List is the defensive strategy:
- It identifies the sand-like behaviors that sneak in and steal space.
- Examples: doomscrolling, saying yes to everything, perfectionism, checking email reflexively.
This is about boundaries: actively remove what doesn’t serve your priorities.
Think of the To-Don't List as the sand filter—it keeps your jar clean so your pebbles can settle in first.
