Updated below:
I’ll tell you what I’m doing today and it Works for Me!
I’m making a looong to do list for the upcoming week and feeling great about it!!!
The longer the list the better!
Huh?
I know, I know, some of you are thinking this lady is nuts, why would she be excited about a long list when a shorter list is what we are all after during this busy busy time. Now before you think I’ve gone off the looney edge I want to tell you that the best way I know to get things done and feel like I’m actually making headway is to create a very long detailed list! Detailed being the key word here. In other words I don’t write general lists because boy it would take days before I could cross anything off and then I’d just feel depressed. Longer detailed lists keep me from getting overwhelmed because I can cross off many more accomplishments as I go along. So no matter how small the item is that I’m crossing off, I feel good and when I feel good, I do more!
Let me give you an example using Christmas cards (although thankfully I did finish mine last week):
General list:
do Christmas cards
Detailed list:
purchase stamps
print off address labels
put address labels on envelopes
put return labels on envelopes
write Christmas letter
print off Christmas letter
fold Christmas letters
take Christmas card photo
eat chocolate
print off Christmas card photos
write greeting on Christmas cards
stuff Christmas cards with letter
stuff Christmas cards with photo
seal Christmas cards
put stamps on Christmas cards
mail Christmas cards
eat more chocolate
Well you get the idea. I normally do my Christmas cards over a couple of weeks so if I had to wait a couple of weeks before I could cross Christmas cards off my list I’d be miserable. Using a detailed list I can usually check at least one thing off a day as I find the time….it totally makes the whole task more manageable for me. Oh yes, long detailed lists Work for Me!!!!!
An Ordinary Mom made an excellent point in her comment. She said she likes to make detailed lists to help her mind relax and she feels and sleeps better knowing she doesn’t have to remember everything because it’s all written down. I definitely would have to agree with this because I fall asleep every night the minute my head hits the pillow. There is something to be said for emptying the brain of all the things we try to keep track of in a day. One suggestion is to carry your list around with you or keep it beside the bed to jot things down if you are having trouble falling asleep. I’m getting older now, not to mention I have three kids, there is no way I could remember everything and so I don’t even try…I just write it down and move on. Whew, what a relief!
Go on over to Shannon’s at Rocks in My Dryer to see more valuable time saving creative tips!!
38 Comments
That’s a good idea! You’re right…waiting two or three weeks to mark off a task can get discouraing.
I love the part telling you to eat chocolate!
I understand the need to check off something each day, this way you might have a chance to check off several items.
I’m a detailed list writer too! I love being able to cross off little things, even “eating chocolate” ;) Great idea =) Happy Holidays!
OMG that’s exactly what I do! I have to stop myself getting too anal about it though, like a go to post office, buy stamps, get back in car… etc haha .
I totally do this, although not quite so detailed! I just love writing lists, and it helps when you’re tired and need to check if you’ve done everything for the day :-)
I am loving the idea. I generally do a more generalized list, because if I get too detailed, I’m afraid I’d never get any work done. But I think if I just did a one-day specific list at a time or maybe even a one-week specific list, it would be good. Hmmm, maybe that will be today’s post! :)
I’m a detail kind of gal, too. And I’m a chocolate loving kind of gal as well. An excellent combination.
I have to use this in my classroom. I could have the kids write a long detailed list of their classwork or homework (say as handwriting practice.) I bet they would love to cross things off too. I’m goint to try this and see if the quality of the work improves. Very interesting motivational tool.
great idea! I LOVE to cross things off. The detailed part would work for me, too!
I am a big fan of the list!! Sometimes I feel like I can’t get anything accomplished without one.
I am a big fan of the list!! Sometimes I feel like I can’t get anything accomplished without one.
I am a big fan of the list!! Sometimes I feel like I can’t get anything accomplished without one.
Oh what a fun idea! I had never thought of doing something like that-except for times I was planning out an especially important day and maybe written details for every step of the day. ;) This is great because it makes you realize how much you really did accomplish. When I finally got all our cards out, it felt like a huge accomplishment, but it was funny to see your list of all the steps that really go into it. Thanks for sharing!
I do detailed lists too, but I might get too depressed if the first 2 items I crossed off were eat chocolate and eat more chocolate, which would be higly likely ;)
Kim
Love it. I find I feel better doing detailed lists, too! Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!
Great idea — not only do you feel like you’ve accomplished something by being able to cross off the smaller tasks from your list — it also helps remind you about little things like getting stamps or printing decorative address labels before the last minute.
I don’t know that I have ever gotten that detailed in my lists before. I’ll have to give it a try!
Thanks for the great idea!
Oh, YEAH!! I LOVE crossing things off my detailed lists. Sometimes I even add something I forgot to put on it in the first place just so I can cross it off. :)
I LOVE to create my detailed lists and cross things off of them as they are completed. Glad to know there are so many of us out there!
However, I also like to make these lists because it helps my mind relax more. I feel and sleep better when I don’t have to remember everything because I have things written down. Quirky, I know, but it works for me!
eat MORE chocolate
I absolutly LOVE lists as well! Sometimes I don’t even check things off! I just like making them!
I’m so with you on this one! It feels so good to me knocking all those things off it motivates you to just keep on going!
I can definitely relate! Lists are my specialty! can’t survive without them. I like your detailed version!
Kim
I like to make lists and write down things I’ve already done so that I can cross something off immediately!
I’ve been known to write a finished thing on a list JUST to cross it off.
Yep, I’m easy to please.
We must think alike - I just posted a mile-long list on my blog yesterday!
I list all of the details, because sometimes I can only devote 2-3 minutes to a job - I break it into very small chunks!
You are so funny, but you’re right. I’ll try a loooong list next time.
I’ll have to give this a try. I have been struggling with being productive lately and maybe it is because my lists aren’t specific enough.
It is funny to read this today because I am reading a book (ADD Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life)and I just read the chapter on lists. Their rule is no more than 5 items to a list. Now I’ll have to try it both ways and see which day I’m more productive.
BTW, I love your blog–very inspiring!
It’s midnight and I’m up because of all the crazy things I have to do still…
I was just sitting down to make my list for tomorrow when I remembered you posted about this at Rocks. So I signed on to see what you had to say about it. I too feel much, much better when it’s all written down like that.
I haven’t been here for awhile, so hello again. I’m leaving my link because I’m too tired to fight beta and sign in.
Have a Merry Christmas!
http://thewoodenporch.blogspot.com/
I love to see a kindred soul listmaker! I feel so much less stress when I have a detailed list because I know I won’t forget things. And the satisfaction derived from crossing something off is worth every minute it took to write the list!
Elizabeth from
http://texasjoy.blogspot.com
WOW! I’ve made detailed lists before… but never THAT detailed! LOL I do it for the same reason, though. I like to see things get crossed off! Makes me feel more productive. :)
Laura–I’m going to post some of my no-bake recipes tonight or tomorrow that I mentioned on Wednesday. . . .
I love the chocolate part!
I am new to your blog and so glad to have found you!
Love and God’s Blessings,
Cat
There really is no way to remember everything. I am a Harry Potter fan and sometimes I wish I had Dumbledore’s Pensieve :) !!
P.S. Thanks for the link!
I am so relieved someone else thinks like I do!
This is so good. Sometimes I make long lists just so I can cross things off. That keeps me motivated. I like the idea of being extra detailed.
Yes! Yes! That’s what I do! I LOVE (big, bold, italic, flaming letters) to cross off items off my “to do” list! I have to empty my brain or all those little things will most certainly seep out and I’ll forget some highly important thing! I’ve also been known to forget to include something on my list and, after doing it, add it and THEN cross it right back off! hee hee
Donna
http://www.handsful.com
excellent!!!
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