Why make lists?
Having a list means you always know what needs to be done and in what order. Once you have decided what to fit into your day, all you have to do is get on with it. This takes away a lot of indecision and you also get a real sense of achievement as everything gets crossed off.
Where to start?
It’s never a bad idea to start with things that can be crossed off immediately. Put things down in simple 'bullet points' so it’s easy to see where you are: My own daily list always starts with the following items;
- Get up!
- Get dressed
- Breakfast
- Post
This is all a bit of applied psychology to get me moving in the morning, by the time I actually pick up my list these four items can be crossed off, and I feel that I'm making progress from the word go!
You can set up a basic list on your computer and print it off as you need it. I find it helps to have it in hard copy so you can cross things off or carry it around with you. If you have certain thing you always do every day, you can set these up in your template. this also helps develop positive routines.
Prioritising:
Try to get the really important tasks out of the way early on. One really helpful trick is to list an important or large task, like paying the bills or clearing out the pantry, then immediately before and after it list a small, quick, easily achieved task. Sandwich important and minor tasks to keep you moving.
Tackling big tasks:
If a job can't be finished in a set amount of time, try splitting it into manageable chunks. 15 minutes is good if you are new to this. So, for example, if your major task is to tackle your paperwork and you know it will take several hours, you might list it like this:
- Throw out junk mail
- Feed the cat
- Separate out tax files
- Make a sandwich
- Set up new filing folders
- Put laundry in machine
And so on until the main task has been broken down into manageable chunks.
Sneaky tricks:
Add things you'll enjoy doing, or do without thinking to the list. Things like taking a coffee break or stopping for lunch can all go on the list. Partly this helps make sure you finish the jobs before these events, but it’s more things to check off, and this is good for your self esteem if you are struggling.
Kick start yourself:
Have a mini list on the side of three things that get you moving if you grind to a halt. Make them fast, fun and physical. Mine include getting up and dancing to a song on the radio, rushing round the house collecting mugs and plates at top speed, and brushing my hair. Get those three done and I feel energized, organized and tidy, ready to get back to it again.
Get ready for the next day:
At the end of your list, settle down and enjoy your evening, but make your last task to print the list for the next day. As the evening progresses, note anything that occurs to you. Once it’s on your list you can ignore it until tomorrow, and hopefully sleep much better knowing you don't have to try to remember it.
Advanced list making:
You might want to set up a list template for different types of day. Some days we do housework, some days we do office work, some days we just need to get the routine stuff out of the way double quick so we can concentrate on having fun. Lists will help, and soon you'll have great routines in place and be able to tackle anything.
