Does a to-do list motivate you to do things?
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52231)
Staten Island, New York
October 1, 2020 2:56pm CST
I've read somewhere that if you make a to-do list it can motivate you to get things done that need to be done. I think if you really wanna do something a to-do list should not be necessary to get things done. You will go ahead and do it. A to-do list should only serve as a reminder in case you forget to do something...
I really need to clean the house. It's been a while since I last cleaned. I have no desire to do it. Every time I tell myself I will clean it never happens. Writing it down on a to-do list will not motivate me to clean. So what's the point? And how do I motivate myself to finally clean? The house has way too much dust, dirt, and hair everywhere. It has to go.
14 people like this
14 responses
@DianneN (254948)
• United States
1 Oct 20
I used to make to-do lists when I was a teacher. They helped me a lot and the satisfaction was great when I checked each thing off.
Now, I don't bother making lists. I clean a bit every day, even in the days when I let my cleaning lady into my house. It's much easier that way. Somehow, this pandemic gave me a schedule that works fine.
3 people like this
@DianneN (254948)
• United States
1 Oct 20
@lovebuglena Clean all at once first, then it's so much easier to keep up with it.
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Oct 20
@DianneN Very tiring to clean all at once when you live in a three-story + basement house. And I have no help.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Oct 20
That's what my mom tells me. Clean a little bit a day. But I feel like with the dust and the floors if you don't do it all at once it will move from the dirty area to the clean area.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
1 Oct 20
I use a to do list for memory problems, as a reminder
3 people like this
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
1 Oct 20
@MALUSE That is very important for me. No list, no food. But I don´t make a list about making my bed
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
@marguicha That would be silly. Or writing down on the list that you have to brush your teeth or take a shower.
@snowy22315 (209341)
• United States
1 Oct 20
My mother and sister use to do lists, but I don't usually. I keep my goals in my head. Maybe if I did it I would get personal satisfaction out of crossing things off.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Oct 20
Sometimes we can forget things. Lists help us remember. Although sometimes we forget we even have a list.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Oct 20
I found that lists do help me - though not for everything. I know I have to clean the house - no doubt about that - but it seems like one big overwhelming task to just say "clean the house". So if I make a checklist of the specifics, then I might be motivated to take on each task. If I get one task accomplished, then at least I did something .
.2 people like this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Oct 20
If I tell myself something like "tomorrow I will clean the house" tomorrow will come and I will not clean the house. So I don't tell myself something like that and yet I still do not clean. Eventually I do clean somehow but cleaning has to be done at least once a month and I don't even do that. And hubby doesn't help or even ask if I need help. He doesn't even say we need to clean the house. If I don't do at least something we live in a dirty house.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Oct 20
@lovebuglena I know the feeling. Hubby is out at work for long hours, and then we have 2 kids . . . not much gets done in the way of cleaning unless I get to it. And I can't get to it all - at least not all at once. If anything, our kitchen is the cleanest and most organized room - that one is a must for me. And the bathrooms. All of us are pack rats, so we have stuff everywhere in the other rooms 
.
.1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
@much2say The way I see it, a house is not a hotel so everyone that lives in the house has to participate in major cleaning, regardless of who works or who doesn't, or how many hours each person spends at home. Cleaning a small apartment is one thing but cleaning a multi-story house is a whole other ball game.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
2 Oct 20
@lovebuglena
To answer your question about motivating yourself to clean the house I would say when you can no longer live in a house that is not clean then you will want to clean it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
That makes a lot of sense.
1 person likes this
@meowch (2220)
• United States
1 Oct 20
I’ve written a to-do list and sometimes I forget unless I see it constantly and it’s very important. To get motivated to do something I suggest make the task simple and fun. For me when I do dishes or clean my room I have music playing in the background, or I clean just a certain amount of time maybe 5 minute otherwise I get someone to help me. Then afterwards I reward myself something nice afterwards could be a treat or reading my favorite book.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Oct 20
Hubby doesn't help me clean or ask if I need help. Heck, he doesn't even mention anything about cleaning the house or how dirty it is. That is not fair. Everyone living in the house has to pitch in and help with the major cleaning. Boy, I wish I had a cleaning lady.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
@meowch Cleaning ladies are very expensive. My mom used to pay over $100 for a cleaning lady. And she only wanted to come every two weeks. She didn't do once a month. That's a lot of money. She stopped hiring one and now cleans herself. But not all at once as it's exhausting to do everything in one shot.
1 person likes this
@meowch (2220)
• United States
2 Oct 20
@lovebuglena maybe that’s a good idea a cleaning lady but let’s hope she won’t ask for much.
@kaylachan (84959)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Oct 20
A to-do list an help some people keep track of what they need to do. I personally don't use them. Often, in the past, I would forget I even have a list, or check it.
Motivation has to come within. I've been putting off doing cleaning around my house, too. I clean when I have the energy/am bored enough. Being sure to keep an eye on things I really should keep clean. Of course, this house isn't that dusty. So, yeah.
@kaylachan (84959)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Oct 20
@lovebuglena I am good a doing dishes and laundry, and keeping the kitchen counters clean. I just don't always mop, or clean the tolit as often as I should. But, it gets done. I can use my health as an excuse, as to why it can take so long.... but it gets done.
You just need to make up your mind to do something. Form habits. Those things often help.
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
@kaylachan I can wash dishes all day, though sometimes I don't want to do the dishes. But cleaning is something I have to really force myself to do, especially dusting and the cleaning the floors and vacuuming. Eventually I will clean but a long time passes between cleaning, which shouldn't be. I'll go months without cleaning at times. Not good, especially when there is lots of dust.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Oct 20
As long as the house gets cleaned that's what is important. However, a house has to be cleaned at least once a month and I can't even do that.
1 person likes this
@stringer321 (5682)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
3 Oct 20
I have a list of tasks that I need to do frequently: cleaning something, check the food, read in a book, check the car, and more.
I almost never touch it, but when I do, I update the date and time of doing the task.
I like this list but I tend to forget updating it.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
3 Oct 20
@lovebuglena It is quite far to go to the market and vice-versa. So I need to have it from time to time.
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@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
I think making a shopping list is a good idea. I didn't do a list when I went shopping a few days ago and ended up forgetting to buy what I initially went to the store to get.
@moffittjc (128861)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Oct 20
I am pretty self-motivated to begin with, but I do make to-do lists just about every day. I don't necessarily know that it motivates me to get the things done, but it does remind me of all the things I have planned to do for the day. Sometimes I get so busy that I forget all the things I wanted to accomplish for the day.
@moffittjc (128861)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Oct 20
@lovebuglena What's stopping you from being self-motivated?
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
12 Oct 20
@moffittjc I wish I knew the answer to that. I am not even motivated to clean the darn house.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
4 Oct 20
If only I was self-motivated these days...
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
Good idea so you don't forget to do something important.
@LindaOHio (223109)
• United States
2 Oct 20
I love making lists; and I love when I can cross something off that list. It reminds me of little details that I might forget as well.
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
2 Oct 20
Certain things shouldn't require a list though.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223109)
• United States
4 Oct 20
@lovebuglena Whatever floats your boat. I love lists.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
2 Oct 20
It depends. I remember when I was still studying. Every year after the New Year, when we go back we are required to write our resolutions like a things to do but in practice we never do them.
So I think it just like in making to-do list which couldn't be accomplished.
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