Creating a Master To-Do List
I love lists. I want
to get that out to you right off the bat.
There is nothing I love more than making lists. I love bullet points, and breaking things down
into super simple steps.
to get that out to you right off the bat.
There is nothing I love more than making lists. I love bullet points, and breaking things down
into super simple steps.
My love of lists started in high school. Then it was taking notes, and that continued
through college – this was before computers were regularly used in the
classroom for note taking. Instead,
notebooks and pens – I know, totally old school!
through college – this was before computers were regularly used in the
classroom for note taking. Instead,
notebooks and pens – I know, totally old school!
As I got older, got married, and had children, my brain
filled with more and more stuff to do, and I was starting to run around in
circles, making the same list day after day.
There is constantly stuff going through my mind, sometimes not letting
me move onto actually completing tasks.
I hope that I am not the only one this happens to.
filled with more and more stuff to do, and I was starting to run around in
circles, making the same list day after day.
There is constantly stuff going through my mind, sometimes not letting
me move onto actually completing tasks.
I hope that I am not the only one this happens to.
I started making lists, many lists, all the time, on
anything that I could find – sticky notes, pads of paper, envelopes from old mail. There were a lot of lists, and they were
anything but organized.
anything that I could find – sticky notes, pads of paper, envelopes from old mail. There were a lot of lists, and they were
anything but organized.
Often, I knew that I had written stuff down on a list, but
then I couldn’t find the list, and so I would have to try and make sure that I
could write everything out that I needed to do or buy again.
then I couldn’t find the list, and so I would have to try and make sure that I
could write everything out that I needed to do or buy again.
My lists tend to be huge brain dumps, where there can be
stuff I need to do today – such as put laundry in to wash, or big things like
clean out the basement.
stuff I need to do today – such as put laundry in to wash, or big things like
clean out the basement.
What I found was happening was that I would constantly make
the same lists again and again, with the same stuff, so clearly my “brain dumps”
were not actually working. I was still
thinking about the same things, most likely because I knew I would misplace my
list (read: my kids would find the list and take it thinking they should make
their own list).
the same lists again and again, with the same stuff, so clearly my “brain dumps”
were not actually working. I was still
thinking about the same things, most likely because I knew I would misplace my
list (read: my kids would find the list and take it thinking they should make
their own list).
Last week I had enough.
Encouraged by the many list makers on Instagram (search for
#listersgottalist), I decided to turn one of my blank journals into a master to-do list.
Encouraged by the many list makers on Instagram (search for
#listersgottalist), I decided to turn one of my blank journals into a master to-do list.
Wow, was that freeing.
I know, it probably sounds completely absurd to some of you, but having
that spiral journal containing everything that I need or want to do was
revolutionary for me. I can add things
as I go, check things off, or when I am trying to figure out what projects I
should attack for the week, I can look there, realizing that I have a million
projects waiting in the wings, and one of them will probably get accomplished
if I am looking at the list!
I know, it probably sounds completely absurd to some of you, but having
that spiral journal containing everything that I need or want to do was
revolutionary for me. I can add things
as I go, check things off, or when I am trying to figure out what projects I
should attack for the week, I can look there, realizing that I have a million
projects waiting in the wings, and one of them will probably get accomplished
if I am looking at the list!
It has worked exactly like a brain dump would. I put everything down and made little boxes that
I could check off. I’m sure I will need
to make changes to how it is organized at some point.
I could check off. I’m sure I will need
to make changes to how it is organized at some point.
What has worked is the fact that I can put everything in one
spot, and I know I can look there for projects that I want to work on. What it isn’t, however, is my general “daily
to-dos” such as laundry and dishes. I am
re-vamping my daily planning worksheet to work better with how I want to
organize my life, and my home.
spot, and I know I can look there for projects that I want to work on. What it isn’t, however, is my general “daily
to-dos” such as laundry and dishes. I am
re-vamping my daily planning worksheet to work better with how I want to
organize my life, and my home.
Subscribe to my newsletter above and you will get my new daily planning
sheet!
sheet!
While I still love notepads – and have many of them around
the house – I think this is going to work better for me. Instead of constantly thinking about the
things that I need to put on my list for
this week I can instead look at the master list and see what needs to
be accomplished.
the house – I think this is going to work better for me. Instead of constantly thinking about the
things that I need to put on my list for
this week I can instead look at the master list and see what needs to
be accomplished.
Being able to look back on
all that I have done in the last year will also give me a great feeling. It will allow me to reflect on the year, what
I have done, what I haven’t, and what I want to change to move into the next
year. I often forget all that I have
accomplished due to running around with my three kids every day!
all that I have done in the last year will also give me a great feeling. It will allow me to reflect on the year, what
I have done, what I haven’t, and what I want to change to move into the next
year. I often forget all that I have
accomplished due to running around with my three kids every day!
As an added bonus, it serves as a list that my husband can
look at – because I know that I will not be siding the chicken coop even if it is on my list! Perhaps not a bonus to Matt, but a bonus to
me!
look at – because I know that I will not be siding the chicken coop even if it is on my list! Perhaps not a bonus to Matt, but a bonus to
me!
I have only utilized this journal for a few days, but I feel
so much more at peace than I had before.
I don’t know why. I am probably
slightly crazy, but not having to keep track of single sheets of paper is
helpful. Plus, who doesn’t love checking
off a box when a task is finished?
so much more at peace than I had before.
I don’t know why. I am probably
slightly crazy, but not having to keep track of single sheets of paper is
helpful. Plus, who doesn’t love checking
off a box when a task is finished?
Do you have a “master
to-do list” or a project binder that you use as a brain dump tool? Are you a list maker?
to-do list” or a project binder that you use as a brain dump tool? Are you a list maker?
What a great idea! I saw your link over at Bowl Full of Lemons. I'm the same way, rewriting my to do lists over and over again. I'll have to give this a shot! Thanks for the helpful post!
I love lists too! Thanks for sharing!!