Your Roadmap to Greatness

A TO-DO List is a Great Way to Get Organized!

  

Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed? Do you have too many errands, deadlines, and other things to keep track of?  Do you keep forgetting that something you were supposed to do?

Then it may be time for you to start keeping TO-DO Lists.

I'm a big list person.  I've got a million lists going all the time.  But the daily to-do list is usually pretty standard if I want to have some sense of organization in my day.  (I will be the first to admit that I often slack on doing the list, because even a Muse can get lazy!  But it's never a good thing when I do.)

Anyway, so much to be done in a day, and so little time!  Here's what I find works best for me:

• Write your to-do list either the night before or the morning of.  When I was working, I liked to have my morning coffee and take a few minutes to write my list.  It gave me a sense of order and structure for the day ahead.  Now that I'm not working, it's better that I write my list the night before to prepare in advance for the next day.  Otherwise I wake up feeling too free flowing, with too many ideas of what I could/should do, and in the end, do nothing.  Having the list ready the night before somehow really does make things happen for me.  See what works best for you personally in your daily routine. 
• Write your to-do list in the order you plan to get it done.  This is sometimes a bit hard to do as it requires some thought & planning.  It may come down to what's most practical to get out of the way first.  Or simply what you'll be in the mood to do first.  In any case, when I'm planning my list, I'm also planning how my day will play out.  So writing things down in a certain order helps me eliminate some of the stress of feeling overwhelmed.  If I need to go to the super market, post office and the dry cleaners that day, I can plan what order works best based on where they're all located, etc.  If I have a bunch of phone calls to make, I can bundle them in all together in the morning & finish them before it's time for errands.  A little planning logic goes along way when you're busy. 
• Write your to-do list on an index card.  I am truly in love with the index card!  What a fine piece of paper it is for notes!  It's sturdy, feels substantial when I hold it, and makes my list feel important.  I've tried post-its and note pads, but it's just not the same.  It feels flimsy and meaningless, and so my list ends up feeling that way too.  Strange, but true!  If there's one thing I can encourage you to remember it's that I'm convinced that the magic of it is all in the index card!  If you haven't had success with lists before, consider the paper you've been using might be to blame.  Of course, some people keep electronic lists on a blackberry, etc.  But I'm really all for the hand-written list in this case.
• Carry your list around with you, and refer to it frequently.  As you go through your day, you may need frequent reminders.  I know I do.  Half way through the day, I've always forgotten at least 1-2 things I had on my list.  Checking the list often helps it stick in my mind.  Sometimes I find more things to add on as I go too.
• Cross a line thru the completed item.  This is the best part of making these lists — Crossing it out!  (which is SO much more satisfying in writing than on an electronic device)  Ahhh!  The sense of accomplishment when the to-do thing is finally done!  Phew!  What a relief!  When you've finally crossed it all off, and there's nothing left that day, you're complete & ready to start with a fresh new card in the morning.  What a very feel good moment!