I have a List.
It’s not an extensive to-do, just a large purple post-it with that sits next to my computer. Sometimes it’s pretty full. I would feel like a superstar if I could get it all done. I have a pencil next to it to scratch off things that have been conquered. Important things have stars next to them, some items have question marks, and some are faded scratches that I can’t make out. Unfortunately, today only 3 things have been scratched off.
There are things that linger for weeks, at least it seems. They perpetually get copied from one List over to a new List for another day. The one thing that’s always on there is “back up computer”. I don’t know about you, but this always gets pushed to another day. How hard is it to back up a computer? In my nightmares, it never gets done, and my computer crashes. I think I might do that today, not sure.
I’m trying to be productive, be that model employee who’s on top of things. Well, I do make some progress, but it screams at me, “research authors”, “clean studio”, and “upload programs”. These things I might not get to today. They’re important enough to get on the List, but there’s no star next to them.
As I work, new emails flash in front of my eyes. “Oh, a sale at Wayfair, oh new yarns at WEBS, oh Amazon recommends something.” Just a quick look at the emails. I happily order a few new things for myself, which are not on the List, and go back to the financial report. Emails are a killer life and List distraction.
I wonder, am I really a List person? As I look around me, my List is covered with files and mail. I’ll have to unbury it to get started again. The mess is familiar, and almost comforting, but highly unproductive. Should I abandon the List for the quiet chaos I’m so familiar with? No, I’ve been there. Using a List has brought some important change in my life. I have become more focused, more organized and more productive. I think I’ll move the mail and files now.
I need my List to be the person I want to be.