The Value of Making Lists

Making lists is the common-sense way to keep track of things for both young people and seniors. Helping us understand the value of making lists is what I hope to do with this post. I know I'm not the only one who has a flash of inspirational thought; neglect to write it down; and torture myself for hours--sometimes days--trying to remember. There is definitely value in making lists of important things to do.

There's an advantage to:

1. Writing down activities makes them more concrete.
2. Lists enable you to consider items more carefully and to give them their proper priorities.
3. Writing down activities prevents you from forgetting them. Once they're written down, you don't have to continue relying on your memory.
4. It feels good to cross items off a list once they've been accomplished.

Worth noting: Highly productive people also have a "to-don't" list; which is a list of things NOT to do.

Keeping lists

• Keep your list with you at all times. A list is useless if you can't refer to it; you may think that you remember something correctly when you don't.
• Set a goal to do one necessary chore each day that you really dislike. You'll have a sense of satisfaction each time you succeed.
• Keep a second, separate notebook to cope with complex, special situations; for example, enrolling a child in college, moving to a new home, or organizing a big family holiday.
• Don't be in a hurry to throw away notebook pages that have been completed. That stove part you ordered 2 months ago may be all wrong when it arrives, and you may have to call the same people all over again.

Develop a family message center

Establish a message center in your home. It needn't be elaborate; it an be on the refrigerator or on a bulletin board or a door.

Encourage everyone in the household to use the message center to list plans, telephone messages, school events, appointments, etc.

Keep the message center current by throwing away outdated notices. Take care of as many items as you can each day or enter them in your notebook for action later.