How to be perfect ... in three simple steps

Gotcha! No one is perfect and in fact just thinking about the 'to do' list to even halfway achieve some version of perfection is exhausting.

I figure I'm a relatively average, now middle-aged, woman but constantly feel like my 'to do' list is never ending - that no matter how much I do it is never enough. Sound familiar? You go to work, respond to emails, attend meetings, give presentations, deliver outputs and hopefully outcomes. Then you come home and the list continues, laundry, dinner, dishes, feed the pets, get the kids bathed and into bed, read them a story and finally, a few minutes to space out - generally spent watching something trashy on Netflix or scrolling mindlessly on social media, glass of wine in hand - before bedtime.

Also, thanks to social media the pressure to keep doing, and keep doing more, feels never ending. We see other women who always look fabulous no matter what time of day, making homemade healthy food, designer birthday cakes, a 'home beautiful' home with clear kitchen counters (gasp), climbing the career ladder, glorious sunny holidays, and happy smiling kids.

But it's time to stop racing towards a non-existent finish line, resist the urge to compare, accept we are not superwoman, and reconsider the never ending 'to do' list.

In business there is something called the 'Pareto' principle or the 80/20 rule (thanks to my husband for sharing this knowledge a while back which at the time I thought was minutes of my life wasted!). It says that 80 per cent of your results will come from 20 per cent of your actions. It seems radical but it's proven. When you think about applying this principle to our never ending 'to do' lists, could we actually do less and still get things done?

To make a start, write down what's really important to you. Is it your family and kids, business or career, garden, hobbies, looking after yourself? In our precious time on this planet, ask yourself 'what and who are you doing all this for'? Then look at your 'to do' list and consider how much of what you are doing matches your priorities.

Second, simplify. It's time to 'Marie Kondo' your home and your life. How can you prioritise the things that spark joy and get rid of or delegate things that don't. Is it by:

• reducing the number of sports and activities your children do
• getting your groceries delivered or using a meal service like Marley Spoon or Hello Fresh
• making kids school lunches the night before or saying yes to a lunch order
• decluttering your home, bedroom or toy room
• developing a household job list and getting family members to chip in (and be okay with the fact that it won't be as good as you do it!)
• letting go of relationships that are too hard or create too much drama
• downsize your wardrobe, do you really need all those handbags, shoes (apologies shoe lovers), clothes?

Third, make time for your own self care. Self care is not selfish. When you build in time to do things that help recharge your mind and body, you will have more energy and be better able to deal with all the things life throws at you. So schedule time for that yoga class, meditation, bushwalk, cooking lessons or whatever it is that 'floats your boat'.

By deciding what's important, simplifying and making time for self care, I'm hopeful we can streamline our 'to do' lists - as well as have the confidence to stop comparing ourselves to others - and know that what we are doing is enough.