So Not Domestic: To Do Lists

Friday, April 10, 2009

To Do Lists

Image by Jayel Aheram via Flickr

I am notorious for making to-do lists a mile long and then never looking at them after a couple of hours into the day. Do any of you have that problem? I love lists. Absolutely love them. And I love crossing things off, too, but I put so much on my lists that it seems like I get nothing done. I've devised a new plan, though, and it makes me feel like I accomplish things without my list being too wimpy. You know what I mean, those to-do lists that are like: eat breakfast, feed cats, etc. That's silly. But anyway, here's what I do.

Weekly to-do list. On Sundays, I make a list of everything that I want to accomplish for the given week. Then, each day, I select about five items from that list. Of the five things that I choose, I select 2 that I'm really looking forward to, 2 that I can get done easily but they might not be my favorites, and 1 task that I'm really dreading. For me, the "dreaded thing" is usually a phone call I have to make. I have a phone phobia.

Anyway, that system is really working out for me so far. I get to make my lists AND I actually get things done.

What's your system?

6 comments:

*~Dani~* said...: This made me laugh because I am the same way. I have a long task list in Gmail that I add to every week or whenever I think of something. Being the big procrastinator that I am, however, stuff rarely gets done. So now I designate one or two things per day. My husband laughed at me when one task said "Monday: Read all People magazines." But I did it and they were gone and I feel like I accomplished something.; April 10, 2009 9:07 PM
Lissa K said...: Hi Lazy Housewife,
Oh yes, I have a system...lose, maim, or conveniently destroy my list when I get to what I don't want to do on it. I am going to try your list-making idea. Maybe if I break it into small chunks each day, I will succeed? I used the "reblog" button on your site, and posted a quote of your post there...
I really enjoy your blog!
So...wish me luck!!
Lissa

P.S. I am also going to try that Taco Chili recipe...It looks and sounds yummy!; April 10, 2009 10:54 PM
Devon said...: Hey, that is a great idea! I love listmaking too...and I end up doing pretty much the same thing as you. Great blog!!; April 11, 2009 2:56 AM
justme said...: i wait for panic and the brink of chaos to set in then i remember to do something; April 11, 2009 3:59 PM
Cygnus MacLlyr said...: My system is to let smart ones like you figure out systems, then "borrow" and implement...; April 11, 2009 5:34 PM
Lauren said...: I have a small notebook that I write everything down in, and I mean everything. Lists, phone numbers, directions...if I lose my notebook I'm basically lost. It's with me at all times lol. But I, too, have a list habit, I love to make them. I have a similar system to yours, make a list of things I need to do over the next few days, then do a couple each day. It's much less overwhelming. :); April 12, 2009 3:04 AM