It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
I'm walking through a series called, "Why I...." and I'm looking at some things that I do regularly in my life and am trying to determine why I do them. I'm not just looking at the things that have positive benefits, but I'm also exploring some things that aren't beneficial and helping my productivity. I'm not writing about all of these, but have chosen some to share.
I'd like to encourage you to do the same thing. Why do you do some of the things you do, and if you're doing things that are beneficial, share that with others.
We all need to learn from each other and sometimes being reminded of something causes us to put some energy into that thing, which hopefully makes us better!
Today, it's a short thought but one I experience every day.
"Why I Make Lists".
I think there are 2 camps of people: LIST PEOPLE and NO LIST PEOPLE.
I'm a List Person.
I begin most days with some form of making a list. For me, it's about some simple things:
What do I HOPE to get accomplished today?
What do I HAVE to get accomplished today?
What does my day look like in order to get these things done?
I don't live by the list, but I've found writing things down in my journal, on my calendar, or on a white board, helps me to visualize what I hope to accomplish.
I have no problem erasing things or moving them to another time, as I constantly evaluate how my day is moving and compare that to my "list reality", but for me, it helps.
I was reading a couple of articles on list making, and found some thoughts that were against making lists:
List making without action feeds to procrastination. The idea that many simply make the lists, but they never get anything done contributes to the idea that lists don't work.
List making creates anxiety because it's overwhelming to see all the things that need to get done, and when we're overwhelmed, then nothing gets done.
List making takes time. Instead of making the list, just do it! It's a waste of time.
I agree with all three of these reasons, and many more.
Let me tell you Why I Make Lists:
Making a list helps me visualize priorities for the day and helps me articulate what things HAVE to get done, and what things I HOPE to get done. It connects with goal-setting, prioritizing and managing my daily time.
Making a list helps me articulate what I DON'T have time for. When I create a list and then translate that into my schedule, it's easy to see what I'm not able to squeeze into my schedule or squeeze onto my list without adjusting the whole list.
Making a list gives me a sense of accomplishment. I like crossing things off my list and moving on to the next thing. This energizes me and motivates me to do more. I'm not trying to sprint through my list. Some things on my list take time, cause me to slow down and focus, but I still enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
Making a list is a constant reminder of what is important to me today. I get easily distracted by my own distraction or by others. I need to be reminded of the things that I have chosen to put on my list. Did you see that... "What I chose to put on my list". I'm not just talking about work production. I put things on my daily list like: go to the gym, call my parents, check the oil in my car, trim the bushes, spend time with my journal, etc... The things that I deem important, make the list.
Making a list allows me to be more flexible and to make compromises. As I am going through my day, as things come up, I'm able to respond to them, to adjust my list, to adjust my time, to move things that can be moved: My list is dynamic and it often changes throughout the day as new priorities and new opportunities come up. Having my list allows me to make the changes needed based on new needs and opportunities.
I could go on and on, but these are just a few of the reasons why making a list works for me. I want to tell you: I don't schedule every minute of my day. Often I create space with my list and my schedule. I don't put too many things on my list, and after over 30 years of list-making, I've learned what is realistic for me and what is just wishful thinking. My list is a daily work in progress.
In terms of technology, I use a blend of my computer calendar, my Notes App on my phone and a hard copy of a sheet I created called "Today's Plan". This is something that I physically write out most days and manage to. I like to see my list on my desk when I'm working, especially now that I'm in my office everyday.
I'd love to hear from you on this. If making a To-Do List works for you, what have you done that works best? If lists don't work, share with me why? Let's learn together. You can comment on the blog post on my website HERE.
If you'd like a copy of my "Today's Plan" Sheet, CLICK HERE. It's at the top of the resource page, and there's a second sheet that is an explanation of how I use this.
"I have always lived my life by making lists: lists of people to call, lists of ideas, lists of companies to set up, lists of people who can make things happen. Each day I work through these lists, and that sequence of calls propels me forward." Richard Branson
"People who want to appear clever rely on memory. People who want to get things done make lists." Peter McWilliams
"If the chaos is overwhelming, I start making lists. To write it down puts it in perspective." Renee Lawless