Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 27, 2019 17:03:43 GMT -5
I just compiled a new 15 point to do list of non-work things I need to accomplish before the end of the month (and this is an uncharacteristically short list - my lists usually are closer to 20 plus things). I have a 25 point to do list at work (which is also a bit shorter because month end is coming up)- but only 4 things are "most important" - the other things have "deadlines" or "do this on this day" going out 15 to 20 days in the future. And then there's the stuff at the bottom that move up as one of the 4 "most important" things moves to a new position. I'm more interested in how to do personal/non-work things moving forward. I'm wondering how many things are typically on a to do list? Am I just over extended? How do you "organize" your to-do list and when you do the things on the list? How often do you actually get to do things on your to do list on the DAY you intended to do them? I think I need a new way to think/organize my to-do lists. I keep getting overwhelmed by or just frustrated because I can't "finish anything". I thought a Bullet Journal might be a plan - but that seems like even more organization/time spent and what happens when all your tasks slide into the next two or three days - thus pushing the things you "scheduled" out even further? (I often feel like Lucy at the Candy conveyor belt - I'm stuck in place while the stuff I'm suppose to be doing or opportunities or things I'm interested in - whip past me - never to be seen again (ie missed). I did find this (which I need to re-read) The Cliff Notes: everyday prioritize 1 big thing, 3 medium things and 5 small things. www.themuse.com/advice/a-better-todo-list-the-135-rule This one talks about "task granularity'" and maybe breaking down big tasks into basic accomplishable parts. blog.amazingmarvin.com/how-long-to-do-list/
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Mar 27, 2019 17:44:50 GMT -5
I am definitely no master of todo lists; that crown goes to Knee Deep in Water Chloe. But, I do keep a list of todos daily and a running list on the side of weekly goals. I use a spreadsheet for this. It does sound to me like you may be overextended if you can never get to the personal priorities on your list.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Mar 27, 2019 17:51:35 GMT -5
I only plan to do things when I know I have the time. For example: Mondays I work from 8-8, come home and lay down with the peanut. It's also a day I have homework due...I'm usually up until 1 am. This past Monday, I was up until 2. Trying to add anything more to my list is foolish and sets myself up for failure.
Tuesdays: DH is up for work at 5am. I'm managing #4 then. I've slept for 3-4 hours. I have a shorter work day, done at 6:30. But Tuesday is my designated sleep day. So no school and bedtime at 10:30ish . From 6:30-7:15, I will try to work on small things if I need to (signing permission slips, writing checks, volunteer work for the kids school, emailing folks about whatever). Last night, I played a card game with the peanut. Once I know what time I have when, then I start looking at importance/deadlines, how much time it will take, and how much time do I have. Our next big things are taxes and arranging for DD1's party. Sending an evite won't take very long, so I will tackle that tonight. My taxes will take a long time. So, as much as it pains me, they will wait until Saturday.
And on and on it goes. I keep my personal lists down to about 3. School and routine tasks like paying bills don't go on there. I just need to keep track of the one-off stuff.
I also really put needs on my to-do lists. Absolutely, there are cobwebs that have cropped up that need to be vacuumed. But, I'm not going to put them as a to-do item on my weekend list when I know I'm going to be away from home for 36 hours, KWIM? Or if I have to fill out DS's ADHD behavioral survey within the next few days, prior to his drs. appointment. ETA: I should add, that when I designate the time to do something...I really do hold myself accountable to it. There's no procrastinating.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Mar 27, 2019 18:03:28 GMT -5
Ooooo I luv this kind of thing. Thanks for posting this reading for my commute
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Mar 27, 2019 18:03:57 GMT -5
Maybe spend less time managing your to do list. That might free up more time to do things.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Mar 27, 2019 18:13:19 GMT -5
I think I'm ADD. The only times I am capable of really doing a to-do list is when I have a lot to accomplish in a very short time. Someone suggested Zen to done to me, and that works somewhat. Just pick 3 to 5 things you really want to get done today, and that's it.
I tried to read your first link, and it didn't work.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Mar 27, 2019 18:40:38 GMT -5
I have short to do lists. I have some tasks that I have to do weekly at a certain time. Lucy's box gets cleaned daily.
Other than that, I make short lists in the morning. Otherwise I don't get done what is on the list and feel like a failure. That's pointless.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Mar 27, 2019 22:36:21 GMT -5
I keep running to do lists at work. Sometimes they work better than others.
I had grand ambitions of doing a bullet journal. Chloe's lists are so pretty.
I ended up with a neon lined notebook that I break down by week and day. Monday through Wednesday go on the left and Thursday, Friday and Saturday/Sunday go on the right.
Most of it is one off stuff and deadlines. Sometimes I add the usual just to keep myself on track.
I used to have these huge to do lists. It works much better to see it broken out by day. I get a lot more accomplished. Also as gira mentioned it helps me think about my schedule for each day. Today I had a doctor's appointment after work and I had to go to my in laws to help FIL. Not much else got done.
ETA: the final piece is I have a monthly list as well. Odd things that need to get done but don't have a hard timeline.
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msventoux
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Post by msventoux on Mar 27, 2019 23:25:01 GMT -5
I loosely follow the Getting Things Done method. It does require multiple lists. Among others, I have a projects list, and a next actions list that details out the next step I need to take to move those projects forward and any other pending tasks. Those next actions have a context next to them, so I know if I need to do them at home, work, at the computer, on the phone or while running errands.
I have a weekly calendar with my appointments, and a daily schedule if necessary. I list out my appointments and things that must get done that day and week. In between those times I look at my next action list and see what I can get done. If I’m waiting for a doctor appointment I see what I can do on my phone or online. If I’m running errands I’ll see if there’s any I’m forgetting. If I’m at home but don’t have a lot of time or energy I can pick off a couple of the quick @home items.
There’s an initial investment of time, and some ongoing maintenance, but it’s been beneficial to quiet the squirrels in my head. I know if I think of anything I need to do, and can’t do it right that second, that I need to write it down, text it to myself or get it in my system somehow. Then it can get queued up to deal with when I have time. Tasks aren’t getting forgotten anymore, and projects are getting moved along because they’re broken down into manageable steps that aren’t overwhelming.
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Cheesy FL-Vol
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Post by Cheesy FL-Vol on Mar 28, 2019 7:28:02 GMT -5
My mother is a master of lists. It is a borderline obsession. She was doing spreadsheets by hand before computers. I joked to her a few years ago that when she passes away, she is going to have a list of lists that list all the lists needed to complete all of her final obligations and plans. She is being cremated. I may have to have all of her spreadsheets cremated with her so that she has something to do in the after-life. ETA: I don't do lists. I have a running list in my head. I never put them down on paper, that way I don't feel like a failure if I didn't get everything done! There is always tomorrow.
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spartan7886
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Post by spartan7886 on Mar 28, 2019 11:25:13 GMT -5
I use Habitica website and app. It has Habits that you can click on an irregular basis, Dailies that you can schedule to automatically repopulate every day or every weekday or every Tuesday or the 3rd of each month, and To-Dos that are one-off items. Dailies and To-Dos can also have checklists underneath, and everything can be tagged for filtering purposes. Things color code according to how successful you are at getting them done, and it's all gamified, so you get gold and experience when you do good and lose health when you do bad. Then you can spend the gold on pretty clothes and weapons for your pixelated character or quests to fight bad guys (by accomplishing stuff on your todo list). Within my master to-do list, I also create each morning a Daily Focus Finder that has tasks with my top three daily priorities, next three, and three more if I'm really ambitious. I have Dailies related to accomplishing at least my top 3 priorities along with my usual dailies that are more self-care related like water intake, steps, and veggies.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Mar 28, 2019 11:54:21 GMT -5
While I keep some tasks and projects on a list in my phone, there's just something about crossing off a sheet of paper that feels good, so I handwrite a lot of my to do lists. Nothing fancy. At work, I keep a weekly tasks note on my desk and when I work from home (two days a week) I email myself what my goals for those days are before I leave the office. For home, I'll either tape my list to the kitchen cabinet (mainly for meals I'm cooking that week) or I keep the list in my purse since I'm always running around somewhere. I've got a lot going on so I've gotten pretty good with time management and try to keep to my routine as much as possible. Example, I work from home Tuesdays and Fridays, so Tuesdays I will do my laundry in the morning and wash towels in the afternoon. Fridays I was sheets. Husband does his own damn laundry whenever he remembers. If I have errands to run I try to do them on my lunch hour. If not, there's always Saturday morning. I also have meetings that fall on specific evenings of each month so my life is planned around those not interfering with anything I might want to do. Second and fourth Tuesdays I have council, second Thursday I have a committee, third Monday I have a committee, fourth Monday I have a committee. All other days are mine. It is nice working from home on Tuesdays since I work, get in a workout, make dinner, and then head out to my meeting.
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ken a.k.a OMK
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Post by ken a.k.a OMK on Mar 28, 2019 12:05:42 GMT -5
I don't keep a written list because I'm afraid my wife will find it and ask why nothing got done. Easier to respond to the "honey do list".
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Mar 28, 2019 16:16:29 GMT -5
The honey do list is the reason my uncle didn't retire until his early 80's when he did so to take care of his dying wife. He did half joke at the visitation that he never did a honey do list.
He is in his mid 80's now and works his construction job a few days a week and there are definitely jobs that his boss will not allow him to do.
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bookkeeper
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Post by bookkeeper on Mar 28, 2019 18:05:20 GMT -5
I find we don't need to start as many lists if we simply engage in "Do It Now" behavior. Instead of planning to do a task at some point in the future, get up and do it now.
I used to set the oven timer for the kids and make them pick up/clean for 15 minutes. Speed cleaning I called it. Adults need to set the oven timer too. Little projects don't accumulate if you set aside 15 minutes (or 10 minutes) each day to work on them.
Sometimes I think list making is another form of procrastination. Time management and all that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 18:20:40 GMT -5
I have to have a list. Otherwise all the stuff sits around in my brain and I worry that I'll forget to do it. Many of the items take 5 minutes but there can be bad consequences if they don't get done.
Although I have a Calendar app I also have a paper calendar- I just like seeing it in print.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Mar 28, 2019 18:28:57 GMT -5
Aw, thanks.
Yes, for the past three years, I've been doing what's termed "bullet journaling". For the late 90s - early oughts, I used paper and pencil for lists. Then I transitioned to Palm Pilots and then iPhones. About four to five years ago I grew weary of staring at my phone screen all the time. I switched back to a notebook. I sometimes feel annoyed that "bullet journaling" is not a concept I propagated the world with. Keeping lists is certainly not a new idea although Rider Carroll has certainly made a career out of it.
For me: I have two portions of my brain at minimum: house & work. There are also usually sections in my brain for kids, school, trips, medical.
Here are the lists that I always have: Home Daily Tasks Morning Routine Evening Routine Weekly Tasks Deep Cleaning Zone tasks ala FlyLady
Work
I use one page (either one single side of one page or two facing pages) and divide into the number of sections that I have for whatever my current job is; right now that's seven. I use a different color for each section.
Each day, I write out a list of what I need to accomplish that day. I don't write out the daily tasks each day; I use what's termed a "tracker". It's one list with at least a week's worth of check mark spaces.
I choose what to do each day based on what my schedule says. I keep a Google Calendar because currently, my schedule is so random that I cannot write out a full week at a time. I don't re-write appointments in my notebook as I see that as inefficient.
If anyone is interested, I will post pictures of my lists.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 21:57:29 GMT -5
I'm currently using three different paper journals/planners. One is for bills to pay and recurring periodic household tasks like "change a/c filter". Another is a running list of to-do's like plant new tomatoes, clean toilets, call XYZ. The third is actually a two-part ring bound notebook for my current volunteer commitment. One part is dedicated to managing the advertising portion of the community newsletter I co-publish, billings, receipts, etc. The other part is for editorial content-story ideas, calls to make, events to publish.
If I don't write down stuff and line it through when done, I feel very out-of-control and spend untold sleepless hours wondering what I've forgotten. Staying what my friends consider hyper-organized gives me peace of mind.
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skubikky
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Post by skubikky on Mar 29, 2019 14:23:33 GMT -5
I break down my lists by
-items that need to be purchased; i.e. food, household items -task to be done in the short term -tasks to be done in the long term
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