L is for Lists

Linda Ronstadt

I had no intention of doing a post on lists until this week. I’ve be joining quite a few blogs because of the A to Z Challenge and cannot always keep up with all the posts but did see some I found very interesting and wanted to read later when I had more time.

Ah Lists! I grew up with lists. My mom lived and breathed them. Her lists where done in pencil on the back of an old envelope. She was a genius with them and eventually learned to manipulate herself with them. Every morning she would make a list of the chores or tasks she wanted to accomplish for the day. She’d already be up, showered and dressed, have the coffee made and breakfast started yet they were always put on the list which she would immediately cross out as done.

The task of cleaning the kitchen for example:
Clear off table: 8:45
Wash Dishes 8:55
Wipe off Table 9:05
Wipe Off Counter 9:10
Sweep Floor 9:15
Dry Dishes and Put Away 9:25

There was a method to mom’s madness. If she just put clean kitchen on the list there was only one thing crossed out. With cleaning the kitchen divided into 6 tasks we now have 6 items crossed off. Having the 6 items from the kitchen and 4 or 5 she did before she even started the list crossed off she could look down at the list and think to herself look at all the things I’ve accomplished already.

Fortunately we don’t need the old envelope for our lists, we have things like reminders in Outlook, our phone or for some even our watch. We can even set reminders on our television to watch a certain show when it comes on. For me I saved the posts I want to read later in a folder in Internet Explorer called Blog Catch-up.  In a sense aren’t we creating lists just not the way mom did?

Are you using lists for your art of craft endeavors? If not, why? Are you making lists for the things you need to do? Do you have a list of places you want to call or submit something to? A list of books you should read? A list of things you’d like to try?

Rule #11 keep realistic lists and use them.