I am an A-lister.
And a B-lister. And a 1, 2, 3 lister.
And so on.
A. I make lists. B. I compose lists. C. I put lists together. D. I enlist lists.
My daily to-do directions tell me what to do. Sometimes I take my list from the morning and do a complete rewrite after lunch. I've been known to write, "Make list for Tuesday" on Monday's list. It's that bad. (Or good, depending on your opinion of lists.)
I've been a registered pro-lister since at least 1993 - for a number of reasons.
1. Lists tell me where to go and what to do. If I didn't have that, I might not get to the place where I am supposed to be. I might forget to do something meant to be an integral part of my day, like going to the dentist or (horrors) scrubbing a toilet. Instead I'd stay in bed and forget to eat breakfast. Lists keep me on track.
2. Lists provide opportunity. If an item is on your list, logic dictates it is a legitimate and prioritized activity. If you want to eat chocolate after lunch (or for lunch), include Hershey's on your list. Likewise with taking a nap, watching kitten videos on YouTube or scrolling through vast amounts of Facebook entries. It is your duty to complete the listings on your list; you might as well make a few of them enjoyable. You can thank me later.
3. Napping notwithstanding, lists help me sleep. Ever wake up in the middle of the night and become plagued by all the things you hope to accomplish in the coming day? Me neither. If I don't have a written list, the middle of the night mental one can keep me awake and alert for hours. I find keeping a pencil and paper by the bedside helps me sleep better. Or at the very least provides a groggily written, illegible directive to decipher over morning coffee.
4. Lists give a visual reminder of productivity. When you complete a task (this part is very important) you get to cross that item off your list. It's a fundamental human truth: there are few things in life as rewarding and satisfying as crossing an entry off your to-do list. Well, except for chocolate. Or maybe a combination of the two. Imagine savoring a bite of a bon bon while simultaneously crossing it off your list. Nirvana.
5. We now come to the importance of list content and increasing crossing opportunities. If I have three loads of laundry on a Tuesday, I could simply write "Laundry" on my list. That would be so wrong. I would spend hours hobnobbing with the dirty clothes before getting to cross the L-word off my list. When composing list content, it is prudent to maximize the crossing potential. An A-lister like myself knows how to expand list capacity so opportunities for crossations are multiplied.
For instance, one load of laundry equates to four entries on my list: 1. Wash 2. Dry 3. Fold 4. Put away. Three loads equals 12 crossportunities. It's smarter than new math.
You can imagine how similar amplification can be achieved with other household chores. Office and work tasks can likewise be outnumbered. Play it right and you'll spend more time crossing than working. There's a goal that's a bigger priority than any item on anyone's list.
6. One last piece of list advice for copious crossing opportunities: include items you've previously completed for the sole purpose of crossing them off. Ingenious, I know. You might think this sounds like cheating, but it isn't. You've done the chore. You deserve to take credit for your efforts on a list somewhere (and leave it out on the kitchen table for your family to see later).
7. I guess that sums it up. Lists can be helpful for numerous reasons. I probably could list them here. Then again, I believe I just did.
- Jill Pertler's column appears every Thursday in the Times. She can be reached at pertmn@qwest.net.
And a B-lister. And a 1, 2, 3 lister.
And so on.
A. I make lists. B. I compose lists. C. I put lists together. D. I enlist lists.
My daily to-do directions tell me what to do. Sometimes I take my list from the morning and do a complete rewrite after lunch. I've been known to write, "Make list for Tuesday" on Monday's list. It's that bad. (Or good, depending on your opinion of lists.)
I've been a registered pro-lister since at least 1993 - for a number of reasons.
1. Lists tell me where to go and what to do. If I didn't have that, I might not get to the place where I am supposed to be. I might forget to do something meant to be an integral part of my day, like going to the dentist or (horrors) scrubbing a toilet. Instead I'd stay in bed and forget to eat breakfast. Lists keep me on track.
2. Lists provide opportunity. If an item is on your list, logic dictates it is a legitimate and prioritized activity. If you want to eat chocolate after lunch (or for lunch), include Hershey's on your list. Likewise with taking a nap, watching kitten videos on YouTube or scrolling through vast amounts of Facebook entries. It is your duty to complete the listings on your list; you might as well make a few of them enjoyable. You can thank me later.
3. Napping notwithstanding, lists help me sleep. Ever wake up in the middle of the night and become plagued by all the things you hope to accomplish in the coming day? Me neither. If I don't have a written list, the middle of the night mental one can keep me awake and alert for hours. I find keeping a pencil and paper by the bedside helps me sleep better. Or at the very least provides a groggily written, illegible directive to decipher over morning coffee.
4. Lists give a visual reminder of productivity. When you complete a task (this part is very important) you get to cross that item off your list. It's a fundamental human truth: there are few things in life as rewarding and satisfying as crossing an entry off your to-do list. Well, except for chocolate. Or maybe a combination of the two. Imagine savoring a bite of a bon bon while simultaneously crossing it off your list. Nirvana.
5. We now come to the importance of list content and increasing crossing opportunities. If I have three loads of laundry on a Tuesday, I could simply write "Laundry" on my list. That would be so wrong. I would spend hours hobnobbing with the dirty clothes before getting to cross the L-word off my list. When composing list content, it is prudent to maximize the crossing potential. An A-lister like myself knows how to expand list capacity so opportunities for crossations are multiplied.
For instance, one load of laundry equates to four entries on my list: 1. Wash 2. Dry 3. Fold 4. Put away. Three loads equals 12 crossportunities. It's smarter than new math.
You can imagine how similar amplification can be achieved with other household chores. Office and work tasks can likewise be outnumbered. Play it right and you'll spend more time crossing than working. There's a goal that's a bigger priority than any item on anyone's list.
6. One last piece of list advice for copious crossing opportunities: include items you've previously completed for the sole purpose of crossing them off. Ingenious, I know. You might think this sounds like cheating, but it isn't. You've done the chore. You deserve to take credit for your efforts on a list somewhere (and leave it out on the kitchen table for your family to see later).
7. I guess that sums it up. Lists can be helpful for numerous reasons. I probably could list them here. Then again, I believe I just did.
- Jill Pertler's column appears every Thursday in the Times. She can be reached at pertmn@qwest.net.
