The Art of List Making
Are you the type of person who likes to wing it, or do you like to make lists? Even if you’re the more carefree type, you’ll probably find that as you get busier, more stressed or even just a little older, just winging it isn’t as effective anymore. Making lists becomes essential to staying organized.
Lists help us remember things and relieve stress by bringing order to our lives. Lists make our lives more efficient and productive. When you break a large project down into smaller tasks with a list, it makes the job more manageable.
Great lists require:
The right tools. High-tech or low-tech? That depends on your personality and the contents. You might prefer writing your grocery list on an old envelope that contains the coupons you’ll need for shopping. If you’re managing a large event or a big project, your lists might be best kept in an old spiral bound notebook or loose leaf binder, so they are all kept together. (You can even use extra pages or clear sleeves to keep track of pictures, magazine and newspaper articles, or business cards.)
If you want to go high tech, there are plenty of software packages to help you. Ta-da Lists is one of the most popular web applications, along with FlexLists. There are even list-making applications for the iPhone, such as ListMonger. And don’t forget the very versatile and helpful SCOTT® Grocery Checklist on this Common Sense site.
The benefit of using computer software is that you can start with rough brainstorming and quickly turn it into a prioritized list without rewriting or wasting paper. The benefit of using paper and pencil (or a PDA) is you can carry it with you anywhere and add items as you think of them or check them off as you complete them.
The right system. You have to decide what arrangement or prioritization of details makes the most sense. Should your list be chronological? In order of importance, starting with the most important? According to who’s responsible for the action? Only you can decide what’s best for each particular project.
Some lists, such as “Cleaning projects before the party,” will have a very short life. Whereas “Books to read” will be something you might add to and delete from for years. Whatever the system, efficiency experts recommend that you don’t make the list too long, or it quickly becomes overwhelming.
The right rewards. Are you the type of person who gets a lot of satisfaction out of checking items off a list? Make sure you can do that and offer yourself a reward when a section of it or all of it is checked off. Always remember to concentrate on what you’ve done instead of what’s left to do on the list.
The right motivation. If you have long-term lists, such as a bucket list of life goals, or a wish list of things you want to improve in your home, don’t forget to revisit them often. They may serve as great motivation to get things done despite your busy lifestyle. On the other hand, you might find that you want to change items or priorities as you grow personally. Remember, as you make lists of life goals, break each goal down into manageable pieces.
Question: What types of lists do you make, and how do you make them?
