I’m a list maker. Though I don’t always enjoy the activities on my to-do list, I love the look of the list and the thrill of crossing items off.
In high school we were required to use agendas that had a two-page spread for a week. It was perfect for keeping track of activities and homework. When I entered college, I got a similar book (though in a more mature faux-leather cover) that worked great for several years.
One Christmas a few years ago, my mom bought me a PDA. I was able to convert quite successfully to this little thing that holds everything I could ever need.
Unfortunately, I’m a bit of an abuser, I guess. Slowly, it started to wear down: the touchpad, the power button, etc. It was no longer as convenient to use to keep track of tasks. My adult life requires more and more of me, at school, church, work, and home.
A little over a year ago, I switched back to paper for my to-do lists. I still use the PDA for everything else, but I find joy in making actual to-do lists and can keep better track of what I need to do.
The key for me to use to-do lists is to review them every week. I take a look at my calendar for the next couple of weeks, my syllabi, and any other relevant schedules to help me keep my to-do list relevant and clean. I prioritize and categorize items by date, putting the most immediate tasks on the top of the page. After all the dated to-do lists (usually for reading and papers), I have an “other” category that contains all the things that I would like done eventually. These tasks rarely get tackled, but if I get ambitious, I know where to look!
Reviewing my to-do list weekly, that’s what works for me!
For past Works-for-Me Wednesday ideas:
Eating Leftovers
Getting a Good Night’s Rest
Avoiding Walmart Stress
Easy Chicken Soup Casserole
Removing Ink Stains
Encouraging Others – your ideas
Getting a Good Night’s Rest
Avoiding Walmart Stress
Easy Chicken Soup Casserole
Removing Ink Stains
Encouraging Others – your ideas
i use the pda and make lists too. i think there has to be a better way:-) regular review is great, tho…nice post!
I HAVE to have my to-do list on paper. I type it out on the computer and then print it out.
I also clip any necessary papers to it.
Blessings,
Karla
I manage my lists in a similar manner … and always on paper! Even though I love my wireless laptop, my cell phone, and my tiny MP3 player, I’m not at all interested in a PDA for my lists.
Yep, I’m a paper girl myself. I love being organized!
I’m a paper gal myself and LOVE my to-do lists :)
Got some other lists over at my site too if you want to try for the different areas of your life :)
http://takechargesolutions.org
I’m a list person, too! Have you ever seen a site called “My Ta-Da Lists”? It’s totally free. You make up your own lists that you can print out. (Or you can just check them off right on the computer.) I have them for chores in every room of my house, plus a few other lists. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s really satisfying to cross things off as you complete them!
We are so alike! I am a list-maker. Can’t live without it.
I love making lists too – not getting everything on those lists completed is a completely different story.
Oh and paper and pen all the way – I actually love the art of hand writing.
I am a list maker too! I love checking off or crossing things out when they are completed!
Paper lists for me. I tried to use my PDA, but it was too easy to “forget” to check it. :)
I especially like the idea of an “eventually” list. Great post!
I have a notebook for my to-do list. :)
Thanks for sharing. I do something similar but have found it hard to combine my “at school ” list with my “at home” list. Do you separate those two or what? I always tend to leave a list at school and don’t tend to them at home and then find myself in a bind the next school day. UUGHH!