14 hours ago
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Lists
I'm trying something new. To-Do lists.
Lately, I've been having trouble getting things done. It's not that I don't have the time, I'm just not utilizing it well. Case in point, I should have already had the first draft of OOTS finished by now. Yes, I'm close and May 15 is my self-imposed deadline, but really? I swear, if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.
So back to my list. I was off from the part time job yesterday and I think it went to my head. I put 11 items on my to-do list. 11 time-consuming items. I guess I need to work on realistic expectations, too.
I was able to mark 4 off yesterday. I learned my lesson. Today, I have to work the part time job and I only have 4 items on my list. Blog post (check), work on OOTS for an hour (next), work on Blood Diamond revisions for 30 minutes and read chapter 4 of my textbook for my Intro to World Religions class. I'm almost ready to make an appointment for my midterm in that class. Yay!
Anyway, I'm going to try this out and see if it helps me get my butt back in gear. It's about 2 ½ months until conference and I have a lot to do before then.
Do you use lists? Does it help you? What other methods do you use to manage your time?
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10 comments:
Ha! Funny you should be blogging on this today. I was just telling a friend how I'll do things if I put them on my list.
I like to make lists and then I go through and put numbers to prioritize the items. I only use 1, 2, or 3. Then I feel some weight for getting the ones done and feel good if I can sneak a 2 or 3 in between. It feels like a mini-reward when I get to cross something off. Sometimes, like the situation with your 11 items, I'll cross something off because as the day progresses, I know it wasn't as important so I take it off the list for the day.
Hope it works out for you!
I'm a list maker too! I write down everything that needs to be done and work my way through the list. It works for household stuff but with writing I can't seem to follow a list. I either write all day and let everything else slide or I do no writing at all ... gotta fix that:)
I'm a list maker. I am also very adamant about having a routine. I have two kids and I work *hard* to be sure we do things at the same time every day. Once something become habit, I rarely forget it.
I do the same with writing. I have a daily list of stuff to do that I create on Sunday for the week ahead and I write at the same time every day. That way I know exactly how much time I have to accomplish my goals for the day.
PS I got into this deal with the routine when I forgot to make my son's lunch...:)
I'm also a list maker. I "cheat" and include things on my list that won't take too long (such as "call Mom" or "email X about guest blogging") just so I know I'll have something checked off quickly. Keeps me motivated.
I have a plan that looks out a year at what I have to accomplish. Then I break down those goals into things I have to do this month, then what I have to accomplish for the week. When I know what I want to have done for the week, I sit down and make my daily To Do list. I put the highest priority things on there first (almost always the writing tasks) because I know I won't get to everything.
I've never tried lists, but I have tried schedules. Unfortunately my body doesn't agree with the time I've set to wake up. Naughty body.
I'm a list maker at work - gotta be or I'd lose my tiny mind. I'm extremely organized/methodical at work or I'd crash and burn. At home, not so much. Might just be rebellion against being forced to do so by work. I have general goals for my writing that I post on my blog, so I guess that counts for a list. Oh, and a list is crucial for grocery shopping. The rest of my life just tumbles along as best it can. Kinda drives my hubby crazy, but he's learned to adjust.
I feel your pain, Riley. I have to make myself lists, too. I usually make a list for things I want to accomplish in the next year, month, and day. The goals must be realistic. Start out small--something like writing a page a day, then you can increase the goal after you accomplish it with ease. Having a schedule also helps, things you can do on certain days, but be flexible enough to change if needed. I hope this helps!
Lists are good, but I use them day by day. I have one on my desk now with 2 things crossed off. Tomorrow morning I'll make another one. Somehow it all works.
Thanks for weighing in, everyone. Looks like we have lots of listmakers here. Must mean it works, right? It's worked for me so far today. Now, off to finish the last item - doing my schoolwork.
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