I think any busy person should be a list maker. Writing a list when you are feeling under pressure creates a sense of order. A few words on a piece of paper (or in the notes on your phone) can give you a feeling of being in control, even if really you aren’t.
Why write a list?
At the very least, writing a list enables you to prioritise. Having all of the things you feel you need to do in black and white helps you to identify the easy wins and the things you need to do first.
If, like me, you have a bad memory, writing a list means you aren’t always forgetting important things.
It once completely slipped my mind that I was supposed to be going out to dinner with friends. Instead, I went home from work ravenous and stuffed my face with egg, chips and beans. When my friend rang to ask where I was I had to pretend I was running late, before rushing out to eat a second meal, this time with three courses and wine! And all because it wasn’t on my list…
Writing a list or two is crucial if you have lots to do but limited time to do it. Good time management, whether you are at home or work, makes you more productive. This obviously gives you more hours to get a few more jobs done if you need to.
Importantly for me, though, it frees up some time to do some of the things I like to do: my yoga practice, a long walk with Mr Shoestring, even the opportunity to sit and do nothing. Everyone needs down time!
Writing a list and colour coding it
An important point when writing and then acting on your list: don’t just start at the top and work your way down. I usually circle the things I must do in red. If I am being ridiculously organised, I colour code my list from red (must do today), to orange (this week) to green (at some point).
If your list is too long, consider whether some of your green items could really be crossed off. Maybe you can make a separate ‘would like to achieve list’ for when you are less busy?
My list of lists
You can probably tell by now that I am an obsessive list maker. Writing a list negates any need I might ever have had for therapy I think. I have several lists on the go at any one time. Here is my current list of lists:
An ongoing shopping list
A list of meals for the week (a meal plan is, after all, just another list)
A work to-do list so I don’t forget important tasks or miss deadlines
A home to-do list
A long term would like to do list with things like future DIY projects on it
A blog to-do list
A calendar list. (When the kids were small I would write everything on the calendar. Sports days, a command to sign reading diaries, take dinner money, world book day costumes, etc. Now they are grown up I just write the things I need to worry about in my diary. I also do a back up of events on the calendar on my smart phone, which is great as it sends me reminders.)
This will be joined at various points by a holiday list, a Christmas list and a list for any other occasions that I need to focus on, such as when I have invited friends over for dinner (‘remind friends to come’!)
Retaining control
What a great feeling as you start to cross through those things on your list. You can see what you have achieved as you go.
However, if you find your lists are getting crazy long they can start to become counter productive. Your feelings of panic could start to overwhelm you if you realise that you just can’t achieve everything.
I have a few strategies to cope with this. Firstly, be honest with yourself. Do you really need to write ‘have a shower’ on the list? If you are stuck for time, is getting your nails done actually essential?
I knew someone who used to write sh-sh-sh on his daily list. Shower, sh*t and shave. Well, it made him feel better, but those things were going to happen anyway, so they didn’t need to clog up his list. Focus your energies on things that are actually productive.
Break it down
It may be that some jobs on your list need to be broken down a bit to be manageable. For example, ‘decorate kitchen’ needs to be a series of much smaller achievable tasks. It deserves a list in its own right.
Once you have culled some of the items on the list, the next thing to do is delegate. If your car is infested with crisp wrappers and needs a clean, pass this job onto someone else. When you have kids or teenagers I expect they put the wrappers there in the first place, so it’s only fair they do their bit.
If there are too many jobs on your work list, have a word with your manager. Maybe some of your colleagues can help to take the strain.
I am an old fashioned sort and like pen and paper when I am writing a list. However, there is free software out there if you prefer a digital approach. I can’t recommend any but a quick Google found Todoist and another one called Remember the Milk. The name itself appeals to my inner control freak!
Are you a fan of writing a list? How many do you have on the go?
Julia says
I love a list – I am the Queen of Planners. Even if I don’t get round to actually doing half the items on my list, just the act of creating it makes me feel better – like I’ve at least achieved that one thing!
I have just spent the best part of the last month planning my new planner! Now I’ve decided what and how, I’m trying to decide when to actually start it – do I jump straight in or wait until January?!
At the moment though my lists are on the computer (meals, household chores, special Christmas food, house & garden etc) or scraps of paper (eg shopping and particularly busy day to-dos.)
I also have a notebook that I’ve been using as a Christmas present/card list, which goes back to 1987!! I originally started it as my memory is so bad I would easily have given someone the same gift the following year without realising, but now I find it’s fascinating to look back and see familiar names being added and removed as life changed.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
You are my kind of woman
Su says
Oh, I do love a list! A trait I have passed onto my daughter. You should see my lists for packing to go away, they are a joy to behold and I have never forgotten anything.
Linda says
I’ve always liked a list! When I had small children I used to plan out the month’s meals in calendar form to spread out grocery money – so many cheap meals, so many meat, leftovers etc, and then made my shopping list.
Now that there are only two of us at home I have to make lists otherwise I forget important things!! Sometimes I think I should make a list before I go upstairs and come down empty handed…….
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
My memory is rubbish so I also need lists more as I’m getting older!
Eloise says
I use my diary as my to-do list, transferring, deferring and crossing off as appropriate.