The To-Do List
Monday, August 6th, 2007
I was sitting at my desk contemplating my list of accomplishments for today—Gym. Check. Clean house. Check. Make five-to-seven layer dip. Check. Blog for SMITH. Check (after I hit Publish). Research upcoming SMITH project. Check. Google self. Check. Read gossip blogs. Check. Convince myself that I am not addicted to gossip blogs by reading The New York Times. Check—when I realized how much I need my to-do list in order to feel good about myself (and that I need to add more work-related stuff to my list, like “pitch story ideas” or “craft query”).
In fact, without my to-do list, I would seriously waste an entire day doing absolutely nothing, and then I would feel like a giant poop who is a total drain on society, friends, and family. So, of course, since “blog for SMITH” is always on my list, I thought it would be fun to search flickr for “To Do Lists.” Wow, what a productive day and it’s almost 5 p.m.!
It’s weirdly reassuring to know that pretty much everyone needs a list—even for some of the more mundane tasks in life (think “shower and shave”). I personally like the folks who have some fun with their to-do lists—number two on one list reads, “build fort.”
So what’s on your to do list today?
I’m a fabulous to do list maker, and a horrible to do list checker/completer. Have you seen todolistmagazine.com? I am working on getting better about not making daily lists that just repeat yesterday’s tasks but actually accomplishing some items on my lists. But I have such a short attention span that if I don’t write an item down immediately, it disappears from my head.
I’m a recent, quasi-convert to David Allen’s Getting Things Done to-do system. It’s closer to a religion of organization (rather than an organized religion), but what I know and used of it has been really good so far. To do: go to one of his seminars….
This Not-To-Do List might also be helpful.
And also, speaking of lists, be sure to check out Bill Keaggy’s book and site all about grocery lists.