“A schedule defends from CHAOS and whim. It is a net for catching days… A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order – willed, faked, and so brought into being.”
-Annie Dillard
Todays Simple Abundance (ok, it’s really August 3rds, but I missed reading it yesterday) is all about creating a more effective To-Do list. Sarah says, the brain loves lists, which explains why I have to make at least one every day. Seriously. Every day.
I’ve tried so many ways of doing this. Computer programs, my Outlook task list, a control Journal… The way that I usually wind up with is to write a list of things the need to be done ASAP on a piece of scrap paper in front of me. then mark it off through out the day. Problem with this method is that by the end of the week, I’ve got so many half-done lists floating around my desk, and my desk is covered in so many other things, reciepts, miscellaneous papers, etc, that it’s next to impossible to find anything. and I wind up sitting here all day, feeling lost on what to do next.
Sarah suggests looking at everything that needs to be done in a week. Like work, kids, errands, appointments, household stuff, church requirments, you get the idea. She suggests to use your calendar, and block out the time needed for each item on your list. But don’t forget yourself! Be sure to block out time each day for you, and something you enjoy. *S*
Sarah suggests spending about 20 minutes each Sunday, plotting out the next week. Then scan your list every morning and Every night. FLYbabies, does this sound familiar? Doesn’t Marla tell us all to check our calendars every night as we lay out clothes appropriate to the next day, and to check it again in the morning to be sure we haven’t forgotten anything over night?
Sarah also suggests to cross the completed items off in red marker. I agree with crossing things off once they are done. It always gives me a sense of satisfaction to see my list all crossed out. Makes me feel like I’m really accomplishing something. *S* Another suggestion is to keep a list of what you’ve actually done. So that when you start feeling like nothing is getting accomplished, you can, in the words of FLYLady. “Celebrate your successes.” I know I did this for a while, updating my FLYbaby email group with a list of everything I actually completed in one day. Those lists were quite impressive, especially when I felt like nothing was being finished. It was pretty eye-opening to see how much was actaully being accomplished, despite my chicken-with-its-head-cut-off syndrome.
Desipte all my scraps of To-Do lists, I do need to set up a schedule. Outlook is probably my best tool for this, because I can set it up to remind me of scheduled items. I’m already using Outlook to plan dinners and keep track of appointments. A schedule would just be the next step. *S*
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
– Annie Dillard