--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have a million things to do…" description: "\"“If you have a million things to do, adding item number 1,000,001 is not such a big deal. When, on the other hand, you have nothing to do, getting out ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/chris-baty-33899_big-deal_if-you-have-a-million-things-to-do-addin_2214895.jpg" --- # If you have a million things to do, adding item number… ![“If you have a million things to do, adding item number 1,000,001 is not such a big deal. When, on the other hand, you have nothing to do, getting out of bed and washing yourself before 2:00 P.M. feels like too much work to even contemplate.” quote by Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/chris-baty-33899_big-deal_if-you-have-a-million-things-to-do-addin_2214895.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/chris-baty-33899_big-deal_if-you-have-a-million-things-to-do-addin_2214895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/278/chris-baty-33899_big-deal_if-you-have-a-million-things-to-do-addin_2214895.jpg) > ““If you have a million things to do, adding item number 1,000,001 is not such a big deal. When, on the other hand, you have nothing to do, getting out of bed and washing yourself before 2:00 P.M. feels like too much work to even contemplate.”” [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When you have many tasks, adding one more feels trivial; when idle, even simple chores feel overwhelming. **In simple terms:** Busy people see extra tasks as minor; idle people see basics as huge. Key Takeaway Recognize how context changes perceived effort. Themes productivity motivation mindset Mood frustrated reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - work overload - morning routine - mental health - time management Key Concepts task perception psychology of inertia Questions to Reflect On - How does your current workload affect your view of simple tasks? - What strategies help you start when you feel idle? A Different Perspective Even with many tasks, fatigue can make small actions feel impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-deal/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Item Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/item-number-2268792/) [Million Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-things-560082/) [Number 000](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-000-4920189/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Things Adding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-adding-4920191/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) [Too much work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much-work/) [Washing 00](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washing-00-4920190/) ## Related quotes > [If offered, I'll definitely do an item number. I don't think there is anything wrong in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rituparna-sengupta/if-offered-i-ll-definitely-do-an-item-number-i-don-t-think-there-is/) [Rituparna Sengupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rituparna-sengupta/) > [I will never do something like an item number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rajesh/i-will-never-do-something-like-an-item-number/) [Aishwarya Rajesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rajesh/) > [I'm not doing an item number in any film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/i-m-not-doing-an-item-number-in-any-film/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [I am tired of saying no to item songs. I don't want to be known as an item number girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamita-shetty/i-am-tired-of-saying-no-to-item-songs-i-don-t-want-to-be-known-as-an/) [Shamita Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamita-shetty/) > [These days almost every heroine is trying to do an item number but I am the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashmira-shah/these-days-almost-every-heroine-is-trying-to-do-an-item-number-but-i/) [Kashmira Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kashmira-shah/) > [I haven't been in a million things. And most of them have been really small, or guest parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-haven-t-been-in-a-million-things-and-most-of-them-have-been-really/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [You never leave my mind even when I have a million things to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnneil-bertrand/you-never-leave-my-mind-even-when-i-have-a-million-things-to-worry/) [Johnneil Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnneil-bertrand/) > [I can't do a million things anymore like I could when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/i-can-t-do-a-million-things-anymore-like-i-could-when-i-was-younger/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [There are a million things in the world I want, but all I need is you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-a-million-things-in-the-world-i-want-but-all-i-need-is-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can tell you a million things with just three words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-tell-you-a-million-things-with-just-three-words/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A simple hello could lead to a million things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-simple-hello-could-lead-to-a-million-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [YOU never leave my mind even when I have a million things in my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa/you-never-leave-my-mind-even-when-i-have-a-million-things-in-my-mind/) [ALYSSA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa/) > [“I had a million things running through my mind the other day. Suddenly I realized I didn't know half of them!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-leckman-wurms/i-had-a-million-things-running-through-my-mind-the-other-day-suddenly/) [Neil Leckman, Wurms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-leckman-wurms/) > [Empty pocket teaches million things in life And Full pocket spoils you in Million ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/empty-pocket-teaches-million-things-in-life-and-full-pocket-spoils/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Im about to see a million things I thought Id never see before and Im about to do all of the things I dreamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-about-to-see-a-million-things-i-thought-id-never-see-before-and-im/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Chris Baty > [“A novel rough draft is like bread dough; you need to beat the crap out of it for it to rise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/a-novel-rough-draft-is-like-bread-dough-you-need-to-beat-the-crap-out/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“We're slammed at work and busy at home. Throw in an occasional outing with friends or significant others, and we're ready for bed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/we-re-slammed-at-work-and-busy-at-home-throw-in-an-occasional-outing/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“There's a book in you that only you can write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/there-s-a-book-in-you-that-only-you-can-write/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“There's an old folk saying that goes: whenever you delete a sentence from your NaNoWriMo novel, a NaNoWriMo angel loses its wings and plummets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/there-s-an-old-folk-saying-that-goes-whenever-you-delete-a-sentence/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“The roar of adrenaline drowned out the self-critical voices that tend to make creative play such work for adults.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/the-roar-of-adrenaline-drowned-out-the-self-critical-voices-that-tend/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“The world is a lot more fun when you approach it with an exuberant imperfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/the-world-is-a-lot-more-fun-when-you-approach-it-with-an-exuberant/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“Rereading parts of your novel while writing is like doubling back at rerunning parts of a marathon midrace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/rereading-parts-of-your-novel-while-writing-is-like-doubling-back-at/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“Today’s tangents will become tomorrow’s arcs, and unforeseen connections will tie up your loose ends in a way that will make you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/today-s-tangents-will-become-tomorrow-s-arcs-and-unforeseen/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It's the lack of a deadline . Give someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/the-biggest-thing-separating-people-from-their-artistic-ambitions-is/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“You are doing this because you are fantastic and brave and curious. And, yes, you are probably a little crazy. And this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/you-are-doing-this-because-you-are-fantastic-and-brave-and-curious/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“If you spend enough time with your characters, plot simply happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/if-you-spend-enough-time-with-your-characters-plot-simply-happens/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“A deadline is, simply put, optimism in its most kick-ass form. It's a potent force that, when wielded with respect, will level any obstacle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/a-deadline-is-simply-put-optimism-in-its-most-kick-ass-form-it-s-a/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“Don’t be offended if you encounter some good-natured ribbing; the idea of writing a novel in a month deserves to be laughed at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/don-t-be-offended-if-you-encounter-some-good-natured-ribbing-the-idea/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) [Explore all 14 Chris Baty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) ## More Big deal quotes > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he'd always known that when he finally told them, they'd make him feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/but-in-the-parent-department-he-had-won-the-lottery-so-he-d-always/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [“Perspective is everything. If your “why” is big enough, you can deal with almost any “what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/perspective-is-everything-if-your-why-is-big-enough-you-can-deal-with/) [Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [People make such a big deal about how people in bands look, especially if you're a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/people-make-such-a-big-deal-about-how-people-in-bands-look-especially/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [“What’s wrong with you?” John asks suspiciously. I give him a ‘what chu talkin’ ‘bout Willis?’ look and he explains. “You just woke up.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelin-lamontagne/what-s-wrong-with-you-john-asks-suspiciously-i-give-him-a-what-chu/) [Katelin LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelin-lamontagne/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) [Browse all 1,273 Big deal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-deal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you have a million things to do, adding item number 1,000,001 is not such a big deal. 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