Top tips for making lists that really help
By nancygibson
@nancygibson (3736)
France
April 14, 2007 4:58am CST
I find lists helpful, but often people get swamped by their lists. Here are some things that I find really helps make them work.
Always start a list with something you can achieve straight away. It makes you feel that you are getting somewhere! This is particularly helpful if you are a little bit depressed and find it hard to get moving in the morning. Put down' have breakfast' or even 'get out fo bed' for your first task and you know you'll do it.
Alternate hard tasks with very easy ones. So maybe the hard task is 'finish that essay' then the easy one is 'have lunch' or 'put the next load of laundry on', you tend to do the easy ones without thinking about them, so your list goes double fast.
Put a treat on every list, but near the end, as motivation to keep going. It might be 'have a bath' or 'paint my toenails' whatever works for you that you can look forward to.
What works for you when you make lists, how do you structure them to pace your day well?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@mjgarcia (725)
• United States
3 May 07
I'm a list maker too. I usually try to keep it down to five or six things. I only use a word or two and try to group things together that are closely related. A list for me may say: Bank, Post office, milk and bread, call Brenda and House Payment. From that I know that I should mail my house payment from work. At lunch I can call Brenda. On the way home I would stop at the bank first, go a few blocks and go to the post office and another block over to stop at the store. If something doesn't get done on my list, it goes on the next day's list.
@summergorgeous (674)
• Philippines
27 Apr 07
i alternate heavy and light task but i put a motivation on the beginning and on the end of my list. so far, it works for me.
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I have always been one to write things down. I know that PDA's have replaced the old-fashioned 'Day Planner' but I must have my 'Day Planner!' If I write something down I am more apt to remember it. Sometimes even never seeing the written piece again. I make lists daily! Just as your post indicated, I put some no-brainers on my list, as that way I definitely get to check something off!
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
14 Apr 07
I am a list maker. I have a notepad in my day planner and make lists all the time. It is funny but just the act of writing something down helps me to remember. I can make a list of things to do for the day adn never look at the list again. I can remember things if I write them down. I know that sounds weird but I have always been that way.
@mlgb_24 (638)
•
14 Apr 07
this might sound funny, but the list that works for me most is making a shopping list. that way, i don't forget to buy the things that i really need, although most often, i tend to buy more, lol! come to think of it, these sounds simple lists, but they definitely can help if you are not so organized and motivated in a way.
