I Find Lists To Be Comforting

Post Reply New Topic

I do. They have everything spelled out for you, right there. Maybe that's why I enjoy reading the DSM. It's straight-forward (well, reasonably so) and organized (once again, reasonably so.)

They don't require you to go searching for information that's nowhere to be found.

Me too. I make lists for everything. I take great comfort in lists in fact. My bosses at work make to-do lists for the employees at the beginning of our shifts and I love that. Everything spelled out and concise.

The same goes for me. I have been making lists ever since I was in college. I have short term lists that cover 1-2 days and long term lists that cover a few weeks to months. I do lists both at home and at work. I find that that way I don't forget things and am able to concentrate on doing what needs to be done without worrying about what I should be doing next.

Lists are pretty essential for me to function. When information is disorganized, I get overwhelmed and stressed. I have many lists. They make life so much easier.

Oh yeah! I'm a BIG list maker. I make lists for everything -- even stuff that doesn't mean anything, such as foods grouped by color and how many relatives in my family have been divorced. I also enjoy reading lists. Back in the 70s there was a set of books called simply The Book of Lists. It had everything from Oscar winners to state with most prisons to most popular candy. I had every volume and practically memorized them (that was a LONG time ago, so I remember little of it now).

And yes, they ARE comforting. They seem to bring some order to this chaotic world. I actually should make MORE lists, but useful ones that would help me get organized. I tend to make to-do lists and then lose them. I need a list of where I keep my lists...

Yes, absolutely. To do lists especially.

Another list fan here. Without my to-do lists I would have no idea what was going on or what I needed to do and would never get anything done. I also make daily lists (it's the first thing I do every morning) and lists for the week and month as well. I also revise them and make new ones very often.

If I lose one of my lists, I panic and immediately make a new one. The world is chaotic and bewildering without a list to refer to!

Story of my life. I can't function without lists, plans and structure.

I have some questions about all this --

What system do you find easiest to follow your to-do lists? Sticky notes? Small notepads? Spiral notebooks, journals or day runners? Or maybe a write-on calender?

Do you write down EVERYTHING you can think of that you need to do, from small stuff go to the post office to large things like paint the garage, on the same list or do you have lists for short-term errands and long-term projects?

Do you keep a continual list that you scratch off and and to all the time? Or do you re-write the list every time you add something to it?

And finally -- how do you keep up with the damn thing!?! I know my life would be smoother if I followed lists (I used to do it when I worked in corporate libraries). It's just making myself do it the right way.

I like lists and their cousin, rules. I'm too lazy to be organized but I appreciate order beyond myself.

Webalina, all that you mentioned, but my handiest and the one I use the most is a Word document, where the most inane like cleaning my teeth is listed together with the biggest projects, in order of urgency.

To-do lists are amazing. They are how I organize because without them I basically FORGET EVERYTHING. Lifesaviours.
I use a website called Workflowy to make them : https://workflowy.com/ it's really a useful tool, maybe you will like it too

I have several lists in it : for school, for jobs, random things I need to do, and when I still had rehearsals there was a list for this too. I check them regularly and the website sends me a mail everytime I change one !

I use a mini notepad and one large sheet of paper. The large sheet is my "everything" list. Everything I need to do goes on there as and when I think of it and in no particular order. When I have crossed off or added enough things that it begins to look a mess I make a new one. I usually keep this stuck to my wall.

The mini notepad is for my daily and weekly lists, which are the most important. I make my weekly lists by picking off the things from my main list which are either most important or which feel most do-able for me at the moment. Then I repeat that process for the daily list (picking out the most urgent or do-able things from the weekly list). I usually put them on the same notepad page - I have the week's list, then underneath that the list for today. I rewrite this page pretty much every day. After doing this for a while I had a good feel for how many tasks were a good number per day/week and I try not to give myself too much to do at once.

I don't use the PC personally because it means I have to switch my computer on every time I need to add something or check my list. I much prefer being able to grab my pad, and I keep it in the same place so I won't lose it. Though if you are someone who carries a smartphone everywhere perhaps that would be a good idea.