The Not-Doing List: My Favorite Anti-Hustle Strategy for Tired AF Brains
Why To-Do Lists Fail Tired Entrepreneurs
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’ve probably got a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt. And if you’re chronically ill, neurodivergent, or just plain exhausted from running a business, you know what those lists really are: guilt bombs.
You never finish them. You feel bad about it. And instead of giving you clarity, they just remind you of all the ways you’re “falling behind.”
Here’s the truth no productivity bro will ever tell you: your to-do list is full of things you shouldn’t be doing in the first place.
Enter my favorite anti-hustle strategy: the Not-Doing List.
What’s a Not-Doing List?
A Not-Doing List is exactly what it sounds like - a list of tasks you are intentionally not spending your energy on.
Think of it as the business version of setting boundaries. Instead of piling more things on your plate, you’re taking them off. You’re giving yourself permission to say, “Nope, not today. Maybe not ever. Okay bye.”
The beauty of a Not-Doing List is that it turns vague intentions (“I should really stop overcommitting”) into a tangible plan. When your brain starts whispering that you should hop on TikTok trends, or rewrite your about page for the 87th time, you can point to your Not-Doing List and say, “Actually, no. That’s not part of my plan.”
Why It Works (Especially for Tired Brains)
Cuts decision fatigue: Less time wondering what you should be doing, more time doing what actually matters.
Protects your spoons: Keeps your energy focused on the things that actually move the needle.
Breaks hustle culture conditioning: Saying “no” to busywork is a radical act when you’ve been told productivity = worth.
Creates instant clarity: When you know what you’re not doing, your to-do list suddenly feels a lot lighter.
How to Build Your Not-Doing List
Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your own:
Step 1: Brain dump everything you do
Write down all the tasks currently eating up your spoons. Daily, weekly, monthly - put it all on the page.
Step 2: Sort into three buckets
Moves the needle: tasks that directly grow your business or serve your clients.
Maintenance mode: tasks that need to happen but could be simplified, automated, or delegated.
Busywork: tasks that don’t actually matter, but somehow sneak onto your list anyway.
Step 3: Draft your Not-Doing List
Pull the busywork bucket into a separate list. Write it as specifically, boldly and unapologetically as you can:
Not posting on five platforms at once
Not joining engagement pods
Not rewriting my website copy every month
Not live-launching every quarter just because the industry says I should
Step 4: Build safety nets
Your brain will fight you on this - that’s normal. To calm the guilt, give yourself alternatives. Example: Instead of posting daily, commit to one solid blog + repurposing. Instead of a quarterly live launch, set up one evergreen funnel.
I’m Guilty
I used to spend hours fiddling with Instagram trends and beating myself up because I thought I had to “keep up.” It drained my energy and barely moved the needle. Once I put “chasing trends” on my Not-Doing List, I freed up hours every week. I redirected that time into my newsletter - and that’s where my actual clients come from.
That one shift not only gave me more energy, it grew my list faster than months of reels ever did.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Making it too vague: “Stop wasting time” isn’t helpful. Be specific about what you’re cutting.
Cutting what you actually enjoy: If you love recording reels, don’t put them on the list just because someone said they’re “inefficient.”
Never revisiting it: Your Not-Doing List will change as your business grows. Update it regularly.
Feeling guilty: Remember, your worth isn’t measured by how much you do. This is about working smarter, not harder.
Quick-Start Not-Doing List for Tired Brains
Need inspiration? Here’s a starter list most spoonie entrepreneurs can steal from:
Not posting on every platform - pick one or two
Not saying yes to every collab or podcast pitch
Not answering emails at night
Not doing “market research” (that’s just endless doomscrolling, I’m onto you 😉)
Not launching without rest and recovery built in
Redefining Productivity
A Not-Doing List is more than a productivity hack, it’s an absolute mindset shift. It’s saying, “My energy is valuable, and I’m not wasting it on things that don’t matter.” BOOM. That’s sexy af.
This is THE strategy. Hustle culture wants you to measure success by how busy you are. The Not-Doing List says success is building a business that works with your energy, not against it.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need another to-do list, you need a Not-Doing List. It’s the simplest, most radical way to protect your spoons, ditch the busywork, and keep your business focused on what actually matters.
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Hugs & spoons,
