my list
July 1, 2009 | Just thinking out loud,Ministry Life
Some have been making fun of me lately. It’s okay. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.
And besides, the list has brought balance into my life.
My daughter walked into my home office a few months back. She spotted a piece of paper on my desk. It had a massive to-do list. Some tasks were X’d out. Notes were scribbled in the corner, on the back, and up and down the sides.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“My list,” I said.
“That’s not a list, mom. That’s a mess.”
It was. Every day I put way too many tasks on it. Some tasks were carried over day after day, month after month. Dare I say year after year?
You think I’m kidding. I had one task that was a great opportunity. But it had five tasks that needed to take place in order to make it happen. So, it just popping up and then getting moved back to last place–again.
I had to do something, but what?
I decided that my list had to mean something. It couldn’t be unreasonable. It had to fit my real life because I don’t just write. I don’t just minister or travel. I make phone calls to sort out insurance. I pay bills. I clean house.
So my list had to include at least some elements of that. Every day.
But my real life also had other elements. I play. I lunch with friends. I shop. I hike. I raft.
Once the list was complete, real life outside work had to begin. The list had to have a beginning and an end.
My first day was eye opening. I listed one task that would take about three hours. I listed two or three others, things like “email agent about idea” or “make dental appointment”. My list wouldn’t have more than six items on it.
It would be doable.
It took into account an approximate time of how long it would take.
And when it was done, real life play and relationships began. Work was finished.
I did it the next day.
And the next.
And then one day I put that monumental task — the opportunity — on the list. It had five different steps. It would take all day. It went into the mail that next day (because it was on the list: ship CD).
There are no messy sheets lying around. I’m tackling my to-do list every day and things are actually getting done.
It’s second nature now. I’m getting a lot done, but work doesn’t dominate my life either.
So, make fun of my list all you want. I’ll just add one more task to my new list: Hang out w/friend.
And we’ll talk about it over lunch.
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I would never ever make fun of the list. Is it possible that I just claim your list and call it my own? I need to be a list maker..now I am a mess maker in the organizational department.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:19 amLooking forward to meeting you at She Speaks.
Wow! The first big list that was claimed to be a mess impressed me. That was a super organized way of doing life. But now you’re stepping it up a notch, not feeling overwhelmed, and getting things done. That’s even more impressive.
When I grow up I want to be like you. Since you don’t use your big list “mess” any more will you send it to me? I need all the help I can muster.
Just how does one know how much time a task takes? I can’t get past that issue. I don’t even know how long it takes to wash dishes. I get distracted with some other task while washing them and walk away in the middle of it. Yes, I live my whole life this way, chasing rabbits. Hey, there goes one. Gotta run…
July 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pm