List making suits my temperament
By 41Combedale
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
Greece
February 26, 2016 12:42pm CST
I am a list maker and I make no secret of it. If I have a busy day ahead I compile a list which works best if it is written down the night before. I have good reason to take this step because I know myself and I am easily distracted, even on the busiest of days. The list keeps me focused. I can tackle the jobs in any order I choose so I allow myself that freedom at least.
I was surprised then to hear a discussion in which several people declared that making a list of jobs is a waste of time, in fact they suggested it was counter-productive.
I do not always complete my list because I am optimistic about how quickly I can do the work so any unfinished jobs are moved on to the list for the next day. On the whole I achieve more with a list than I do without one. Distractions are fewer and noticed, whereas without the list ‘need to do’ jobs merge with all sorts of interruptions.
In fairness to those against list making I have to admit that some jobs remain on my list for a long while, I do not forget them I just put off doing them. So I suppose a list is useless if the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Thanks to my list this week I have made curtains for the kitchen windows and two pairs of earrings. They would not have been made without my list to keep me focused, but I am so glad that I did. The kitchen looks more homely and less clinical and the earrings are rather nice and I enjoyed ticking off all the boxes.
11 people like this
11 responses
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
Perhaps you are one of those energetic people who does each job as it comes along. You don't need a list as much as someone like me who is easily diverted from any job that she does not care to do.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
6 Apr 16
@41CombedaleRoad Lol - I can be the opposite of energetic - I just don't 'sweat the small stuff' as the Americans say.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Feb 16
I am a list maker two, it helps me to keep from forgetting things when I have a lot to do.
3 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
It is a little discipline that does not hurt much and it focuses the mind.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
I guess that means that you imagine walking around the store as you compile that list. You must save yourself a lot of walking and time with that method.
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
Shops are designed to distract us and make us buy things that are not on our lists, hence we easily forget what we really want in the process of buying something we can do without.
1 person likes this
@TypicalRussian (747)
• Budennovsk, Russian Federation
27 Feb 16
I have been trying to compile to-do lists daily for some months. I compose a list in the evening and the next morning i have a look in it in order to refresh memory
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
Making a list the night before is a really good idea. I do this on occasions and I quite like to wake up with my jobs already worked out for me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325776)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 16
I make lists too and find it very useful. I break tasks down so I can tick off lots of little boxes even if I don't get the whole task done. I have a list of things we need to do around the place and if we need to go to the larger town some 30 minutes away we scan through the list to check if we need something that we can't get in our smaller town. It is easy to forget maintenance issues which need doing without a list. At least, we've found that to be so as we get older.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
My husband has a list in his mind which he plans in advance and rarely forgets. I don't have that kind of a brain and am easily distracted so lists are vital for his peace of mind and mine!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325776)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 16
@41CombedaleRoad Although Vince pretends to complain about my lists he consults them fairly frequently. If it contributes to 'peace of mind', it has to be good!
@MGjhaud (23171)
• Philippines
27 Feb 16
thats actually a good practice. i do make a list too. usually before i go to the grocery store, i hate it when i miss something.
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
26 Feb 16
Yesterday making a list for our shopping was a good thing because we did find some good sales on things we were going to buy anyway and was on our list. We ticked everything off our list and came home tired but we did do all and bought all we went for. I make lists for everything from groceries to what needs to be done in the house.
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
I've never done one for what needs to be done in the house, my husband is the observant one in that respect and he is quick to fix jobs for me.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
6 Apr 16
@41CombedaleRoad
Really your husband is the observant one and not you?
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
26 Feb 16
I am a list-maker. Whether it is what to buy at the grocery store, what needs to be done at the house or things that I am trying to find / complete for a video game. There's something so awesome about being able to check off a box or cross something out - it's so fulfilling.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
I know the feeling, reading your comment makes me want to write my list for tomorrow.
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
26 Feb 16
I too am a list maker, in fact I tend to better with writing most things down. I have tried to use the fancy software for finances, I like to write it down better. Nobody understand this. One thing I like is to see the lines go across the page as I accomplish the things on it,
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
6 Apr 16
I tick mine off as well- that is double the satisfaction....
1 person likes this
@rashkhan (142)
• Delhi, India
26 Feb 16
I also make lists. Making a list of things to be done each day is a good idea to get things done systematically and in time. I don't think its useless or waste of time, infact it saves time and is more convenient.
