I am a chronic list maker.
Yes, I make lists and I make lots of them. It comes to me naturally. My grandmother was a list maker as well. In fact, when she passed away we found a large box full of little spiral notepads filled with lists. Everything from grocery lists to to-do lists to lists of hobbies and more. All in her beautifully hard to read scrawl.
I have been making lists for as long I can remember. Not just for a simple trip to the grocery store, but for each and every day and what I need and want to accomplish. It didn’t even occur to me until later in life that what I was actually doing with those lists was setting goals.
I have also learned over the years that not everyone is a list maker and while not everyone I know that does not make lists seems to be in a constant state of disarray, many of them are. These always seem to be the friends and family members I know that can never get anything done, seem to have no idea how to manage their time and constantly complain that they don’t ever feel like they ever get anything accomplished. I often wonder if this is because they don’t make lists.
Lists give me a sense of control I never seem to feel when I do not have one. Have you ever written a list for the grocery store and then forgot to take it with you? What happens? You forget 90% of the things you needed, end up with a bunch of things you didn’t and almost inevitably end up having to make a second trip back to the store to get the things you managed to forget from your left behind list.
This is much how I feel about my day when I do not have a list in front of me to tell me what I need to do. I am not generally a forgetful person by nature, but I have started to find that when things do not get written down, they are forgotten or at least they are forgotten for the time being until in the middle of the night when I wake up in a cold sweat realizing I forgot to do something important.
So how do I think lists can help you? If you are already a list maker, then this post may not be for you, but if you are not and you fall into the category of the chronically forgetful, running behind and never getting the things done you want to, then please read on.
It is such a simple thing to do, can take very little time, but can make a huge difference. Try it out for a week and see how it helps you. Here are my steps to get started.
Get a notepad and a pen or pencil.
Yes, you can definitely make a list on a computer or phone or tablet, but to be honest I find the old fashion method of putting pen to paper to be much more helpful. Did you know when you write something down, you are 5 times more likely to remember it just from the simple act of writing it down?
Also, I prefer pencil because that way if something changes during the day I can move my list around and erase it without it feeling like my list is just a crazy. I always have a full stock of yellow legal pads and pencils on hand.
It just takes 10 minutes
Every night at the end of my evening, when things have settled down, the kids are in bed and I am in my free time mode, I spend about ten minutes making my list. Often it doesn’t even take that long. I think about the next day and what I need to get done. This is often work tasks, things going on with my kids, ect. I also think about things that I want to get done. While these may not be things that “need” to be done that day, they are things I “want” to get done and therefore deserve space on my list and on my mind.
Get your priorities straight
When you are making your list the things that need to get done are obviously going to come before the wants. Also, things that are top priority get first ranking. Maybe you have an important work task that has to be finished by the end of the day, while you have several other things that should get done, but just are not as important. Then, of course, I am going to prioritize the important project above all else. The great thing about using a pencil is that if things change through the day, your eraser is ready and waiting to make adjustments. A list of goals does not have to be a rigid rule. It is meant to be a guide and help you better manage your time.
Time management
If you are someone who has a hard time managing your time, then adding some limits to your list can often help. It might look something like this:
- 9am: Start spreadsheet project
- 10am: Answer all emails
- 11am: Call back potential clients
- 12pm: 30 minute break for lunch
- 12:30pm: Write proposal
Leftover time:
- Complete any tasks not finished
Obviously, this example is mostly filled with work items, but this can go for personal and home projects too. Check out one of my lists below to see what I mean.
Celebrate the cross out
Yes, I will admit, I get a little giddy pleasure everytime I am able to cross something off my list and if I can look back at the end of the day and see an entire list of crossed off things completed I feel a sense of accomplishment that rivals few others. I know that I spent my time well and used it wisely and because of this I was able to get so much done. Now, when I go to make my list for the next day, I can look back at all that I did and know I do not have to move it to the next day. That is not to say that sometimes things do not flow over. They do. Let’s face it, things happen. A kid gets sick, a toilet overflows, or whatever tragedy decides to mess up your plans for the day and sometimes you have no choice but to move things around. That is completely okay! You had a plan and you went for it. Each day is a fresh start and a new plan.
I challenge you!
Start today and for one full week spend at least 5-10 minutes each night making a list for the next day. Keep it with you, in front of you all day and use it as a guide.
I’d love to hear how your week goes. How did it change how you did things? Did you feel like you got more done? Did you feel more accomplished when you did? Comment below.
