Feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks and a growing to-do list? The key isn’t doing more—it’s focusing on what truly matters. In this post, we introduce the “Love/Loathe List,” a simple exercise to help you identify what energizes you, eliminate energy drains, and bring more balance to your work life.
We’ve all been there: a growing to-do list, an inbox overflowing with emails, and a creeping sense of dread every Monday morning. When work feels overwhelming, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we simply need to work harder, faster or longer to keep up.
But what if the answer lies not in doing more but in doing less while focusing on the right things?
Years ago, I was deeply entrenched in one of the most overwhelming periods of my career. I began working with a coach, who shared a simple technique that brought clarity into why I was feeling overwhelmed.
After doing the exercise, I realized I was spending too much time on tasks that drained my energy and didn’t move me forward. It was a simple but powerful exercise that helped me take more control of my work-life balance and focus on what mattered most.
The Love/Loathe List: A Simple But Eye-Opening Activity
As my coach explained, this technique is a mix between a good old Pro and Con List and a food tracking journal, but refined for the workplace.
Looking down at the blank sheet of paper before me, I divided it into two columns: “Things I Love” and “Things I Loathe.” Then I began tracking my daily work activities for one week.
I kept the paper with me and continued tracking throughout the week. By Friday, I was amazed at what emerged. Under “Things I Loathe,” I’d listed tasks like dealing with complex contracts and expense reports—necessary but time-consuming duties that drained my energy.
On the flip side, my “Things I Love” list included having in-person lunch meetings with my team and manager and carving out time to learn something new. These activities fueled me, made me feel connected and energized me — who doesn’t want more of that? 🙂
Next: Delegate, Streamline or Eliminate
The following week, my coach and I reviewed my list together. We took a hard look at the “Loathe” column to determine whether these tasks were truly necessary. For the unavoidable items, we brainstormed ways to delegate them to someone better suited or who might even enjoy them.
For example: handling complex contracts. It turned out someone on the team not only had more experience but was way better at it than I was. Expense reports? Our admin was more efficient at processing them and didn’t mind adding mine to the ones she did frequently.
By lightening my load of energy-draining tasks, I found I had more time and mental space to focus on the things I not only loved but it gave me extra energy and time to focus on the strategic initiatives that were expected for my role.
And that’s when I realized this exercise could benefit more than just myself.
Using the Love/Loathe List with Your Team
Newly inspired, I decided to share the practice with my team. I offered it up as an optional exercise — no point in mandating more work if there wasn’t interest! When one person on the team completed the list, we reviewed it in our 1:1 meeting and discussed specific ideas for how to lighten the items in the loathe list and how to do more on the love list. As a manager, it gave me great insight into where help was needed. The good news…we were able to free up a few things on the loathe list right away and he was thrilled!
What stood out was how honest and personal these lists were.
One person’s least favorite task turned out to be someone else’s favorite. By shifting responsibilities, we made better use of everyone’s strengths and saw a noticeable improvement in work satisfaction.
Why This Exercise Works
This exercise is all about understanding ourselves and how we work best. Taking a moment to reflect on how we spend our time can help us:
- Identify energy drains: Pinpoint tasks that sap your enthusiasm and focus.
- Rediscover your “why”: Uncover what you truly enjoy about your work and find ways to do more of it.
- Leverage team strengths: Allow your team to work smarter by aligning tasks with individual strengths and preferences.
- Create clarity: Establish a clearer division of responsibilities that benefits everyone.
As leaders, we often assume we need to shoulder every responsibility ourselves. However, delegation is a practical skill that all business owners need to stay in their zone of genius while allowing others to activate theirs.
“Discovering what you don’t want is just as important as finding out what you do.” — Elaine Welteroth
How to Get Started
If you’re ready to try the love/loathe exercise for yourself or with your team (woot!), here’s how to begin:
- Take a blank sheet of paper, open a blank Word document or download this free template. Divide it into two columns labeled “Things I Love” and “Things I Loathe.”
- Review your list. Reflect on your findings. Are the tasks you loathe essential? If so, can they be delegated, streamlined, or approached differently?
- Talk it through. If you’re working with a coach, mentor, or manager, review your list together. Their perspective can help you uncover solutions you may not have considered.
- Take it to your team. Once you’ve seen the benefits for yourself, introduce the exercise to your team. Share your own experience openly and present it as a chance to grow and work better together.
The Big Picture: Prioritize What Matters
Unsurprisingly, you’ll be more effective and productive when you prioritize tasks that play to your strengths and excite you while guiding your team to do the same.
For more insights on identifying and focusing on high-priority tasks, check out The Ultimate Guide to Prioritizing for Your Team. This guide is packed with actionable strategies to help you and your team work smarter, not harder.
Small Shifts, Significant Impact
The love/loathe list may seem simple, but its impact is profound. By taking the time to identify what fuels and drains you, you can have more awareness of what activities help you and your team feel more balanced, enjoyable and purposeful.
So grab a pen, start your list, and see what you discover! The insights can be so liberating; a shift in perspective that empowers you to take more control of your work life.
Thanks for reading! xx
