The Art of List-Making
I am a natural list-maker. When I was growing up, it was normal to have those little yellow sticky notes laying around the house with different lists on them. We used them for groceries, packing lists, and reminders of what was important to do that day. You name it - it was on a list.
As I have grown and technology has evolved, my list types and styles have changed. Nonetheless, I am still a list-maker. I get a certain sense of satisfaction when I am able to cross something off, delete it, or put a big check mark in a box to show something is DONE!
There are a lot of different types of lists, and I don’t encourage or discourage using them. My philosophy is that if they help you, then you should use them! If you haven’t tried to use them, I always say it is worth a try. Putting things down either on real paper or electronically saves a lot of brain space. If lists aren’t your thing, there are other ways to manage tasks and organize your thoughts. I will leave that for another day.
Let me discuss a few types of lists that I use and what has worked and hasn’t worked. Please keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. This is my own take on list-making.
The BIG TO-DO List
For starters, I have altogether discarded the idea that I can make a big long list of general things “to do” in my life. These are things that can be a little overwhelming and (sometimes) important at the same time. For example: make a family budget, paint the cabinets, organize photos from the past 20 years, clean the basement.
For one thing, these are not just simple tasks; they are more like projects that are going to take a good chunk of time. If I have something that has several steps involved, it is easier to break it down into manageable pieces or action steps rather than to look at the whole project as one big task.
Now I have a different method of capturing things that may actually take several hours. Those items skip the to-do list and go right on my calendar! I will just block a few hours on my digital calendar to get them done. Then I know that I have a dedicated amount of time put aside for that particular task or set of actions related to that task. If I do not finish the task, I will block off more time at a later date. The challenge many of us face is that we underestimate how much time it really takes to do things. I am getting better about being realistic about my time, but I am also getting better about not beating myself up if something doesn’t get done that isn’t urgent!
Even smaller, routine tasks like doing house chores and errands will go right in my calendar so that there is a spot saved for them every week or every month. Now my calendar has become a place to dump some of my to-dos, chores, activities, and commitments.
Of course I have the flexibility to move things around, but having a visual reminder that a task is going to take a certain amount of time helps me plan my day and my activities better. It also helps to manage what I can and can’t do during my time outside of working hours.
There are so many types of lists. Finding what works for you is the key to managing time and tasks!
Shopping Lists
I have about three to five different electronic lists going at all times that are dedicated to things I need to buy - groceries, toiletries, home goods, etc. As soon as I see that the milk is running low or there are only two rolls of toilet paper left, I put it on my list. If I think of something that might help me function better in my home, it goes on my list (or my wish list). All these lists are easily accessible on my phone, and I share them with my family members so that they can also add to the list as needed.
The benefit of keeping an ongoing shopping list is that I don’t have to store things in my head or think on the spot when I go to the store. As soon as I think of something, I put it on the appropriate list. Then, when I know I am going to the grocery store, drug store, or even making an online purchase, I pull up my list and know exactly what I need. It saves me some time, money, and it keeps me on track because otherwise I might buy way more than I actually need!
Checklists
It just so happens that I like to make checklists as well. A checklist is something that can be applied to any activity done routinely but maybe not so routinely that you can remember everything about it. For example, I like to go camping. Since I don’t do it often enough, I have a camping checklist so that I don’t forget anything while I am packing to go away for the weekend in the woods. Since I basically take the same items with me every time I go, this list doesn’t change that much.
I have also relocated many times in my life. I have a checklist of all the places I need to change my address as I am making a transition. It is just one less thing to have to think about! Since this checklist is used over and over again, I just keep it electronically and modify it as needed.
Even my electronic grocery list is a form of a checklist. As I check items off, they don’t get deleted. They are saved, and I can put them back on my list again when I need them. Given that I tend to purchase many of the same items, the grocery list makes it easy to do a quick inventory before I go to the store to make sure I didn’t forget something essential.
Conclusion
Lists help me organize my thoughts and tasks. Ultimately, they also help me organize how I use my time and can streamline some of my processes. The thing is, I find that I use different types of lists for different parts of my life. They come in all shapes and sizes, and some are prettier than others. I definitely still use the good old pen and paper method of making lists on the fly, but I also use my electronic tools to help organize my time, tasks, and priorities.
