Confessions of a To Do List Addict
Hello, my name is LinnieGayl, and I’m a To Do List Addict.
Yes, it’s true, I’m a slave to my To Do lists.
One of my favorite heroines of all time is Princess Alexandra from Julie Garwood’s Castles. Alexandra initially seems to be a bit of a ditz, but she’s actually very bright. One of her most endearing qualities — to me — is the fact that she’s highly organized, and makes all kinds of To Do lists. In fact, she actually makes a List of Lists, which is a listing of all her To Do lists.
Sad to admit, but each time I read Castles (and it happens about once a year), I briefly think about starting a List of Lists. So far I’ve managed to resist, but I do live by my lists. I think for me, they’re a method to gain some control over stress and chaos. When my life gets particularly chaotic or stressful, I create even more lists.
Years ago, I kept my various lists on little pads of paper that I would carry with me at all times. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction to cross items off a list, and to eventually see a list with each item crossed off. However, once I switched to a PDA (and eventually a smart phone), I converted most of my lists to electronic versions. So, instead of crossing items off a list, I just delete them. Somehow, that’s not quite as satisfactory, as it just looks like I’ve never accomplished anything.
I’ve also gradually spread my To Do lists to other media, which at the moment just isn’t working for me. At work, I have a list of things I need to do for each of my major projects. I usually keep these in various Excel spreadsheets on my work computer, although at times I toy with keeping them in Word.
At home, I have a master Excel spreadsheet encompassing all kinds of activities I need to accomplish (AAR activities, cleaning, errands, “personal business”, etc.), and I keep this list on my home computer.
Then, I have the long-term lists of things I hope to accomplish in the next year, the next five years, etc. These, I tend to keep on my phone.
I’ve started to realize that having all of these To Do lists in different locations just isn’t working. When I had them all on one small pad of paper, they were with me, no matter what. Now, they’re just everywhere.
So, I’m actually starting to think about reverting to a small pad of paper for my To Do lists. That way, not only would they be with me at all times, but I could once again enjoy seeing how many things are crossed off my various lists. Alternatively, I’d love to find a computer (or iPhone application) that would allow me to make portable lists.
How about you? Do you make To Do lists? If so, what method do you use? What types of things do you use them for?
LinnieGayl
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I have to admit that I only make lists when I realize the house is coming down around my ears. Then I make very simple lists that I cross things out fast. I have a friend who says put down everything so you can see that something is happening. Taking that to heart, I will put down vacuum downstairs, vacuum upstairs – when I finally do, I can cross off two lines ;)
Christmas is also a time for lists for me but I end up losing them or fear writing something down in case Bob sees the list.
And groceries or errands – I much more productive if I had a list of errands with me – I just get more accomplished in a day.
So, maybe more listing needs to be done around here!
I have two library lists — one of books I want to reserve and one listing publishers so I can see what has been ordered and if I might like to read those new-to-me titles.
I always use a new trip list when preparing to go on vacation because it’s hard to remember every single thing one needs.
I too love lists and I do keep them in Excel. (I tend to lose paper lists, also I have those as well, usually for shopping)
The trick for me is to not delete entries from the list, but mark them as done.
Each of my Excels has a column called done, and I faithfully mark the items as done, once I finished them. That way you can filter for things already done and things that still need to be done.
Works for me.
Of course I also really, really love Excel, so I sometimes format my items in such a way, that a whole line gets crossed out, if I mark the done column for that line ;-)
Oh, you can do the lists on computer or on the right kind of PDA/smartphone — you just need one with font options, so you can convert the font on completed items to “strikethrough”, so they are marked off!
Alternatively, put a checkmark or a nice fat X next to the completed items. Or change the color of the completed item. :) Lots of ways to use technology without losing the benefits of paper!
I used to also do lists on a pad — but I was too good at LOSING the pad …
Tee, I think you’re right about needing to have actual printouts. The way I’ve been doing it electronically, I just never feel a sense of accomplishment.
And jane, I agree. Because I’ve been doing my lists on the computer (or phone), just deleting things, my lists now always look like I haven’t completed anything….It’s back to paper for me.
I don’t have a planner this semester, so I compulsively make to-do lists and then promptly lose them. I keep finding to-do lists from weeks prior. I did recently find a small moleskine that I’ve been using, and so far that’s been working.
I also have a tendency to write down things I’ve already done, and then cross them out. It just makes me feel better about myself. A totally uncompleted to-do list is depressing.
I love lists, LinnieGayl. Love them! But the best part of lists is crossing completed items off. Do NOT transfer them to the computer and just delete items. It is definitely not the same thing. You can put them into the computer, but do a print-out and “cross off.” One needs to see progress when doing lists and crossing-off accomplishes that for those us who are obsessed with lists. I have separate lists also, as you do, because interest areas are different, therefore errands are different. (Maybe that’s why I like Julie Garwood so much.)
For instance, I do have a computerized list of books by the month that I want to reserve at the library. But I print it out and cross off and finally update monthly on the computer. Works great. Then I have a list for items I’m running low on and to be purchased the next time I go to the store. That’s hanging by the fridge on the wall and everyone is told to use it when they notice certain staples getting low. Another list by the computer is of errands I hope to accomplish that day. I just purchased a new computer and there are still programs needing to be inputted, so there’s another list. My daughter is getting married in three months–another list. But I love them because they do keep me organized and crossing-off is balm to my mind. It’s another done thing and denotes progress.
Good to hear from another listmaker. We may be nuts, but we’re orderly about it!