Note to Self

When it comes to handling the many things I balance, I’m a “To Do” list kind of gal.  Even though my memory is quite good, I function best when I have the items I need to accomplish by a certain deadline listed on paper, where I can see them.  And, considering how much paperwork I handle on a regular basis just in terms of kiddo’s school needs, IEPs, therapy schedule and documents, grant/scholarship applications and the revolving door of insurance reimbursement, I’m grateful to have a system that works.

But I’m always looking for a way to do it better…easier…faster…more efficiently…with less cost or waste.  So, lately, I’ve been asking people who use “To Do” lists how they arrange theirs and what tweaks have been most helpful to them.

So far, I’ve learned…

Some people like the cleanliness of a typed list each day while others prefer to write the tasks by hand.  The former claim the typed list looks clean and, therefore, feel like it is easier to tackle; the latter say they remember the tasks better when they’ve taken the time to write them out themselves.

(I’m playing with both options; I like different things about each one.)

Some people like having bullet points or little boxes on the page so they can check off each item as it is complete.

(I like to cross each item the hell off my list so I don’t have to look at it anymore once it is complete.  Out of sight, out of mind!)

Some people like one long list while others break theirs down into chunks.

(I have categories on mine.  Sometimes, they are based on one large project with lots of little items beneath -- “IEP preparation” for example; other times, they are simply categories like “Calls” or “Work E-mails” and I handle them in whatever order I choose.)

Some people like to color-code their lists so they know (for example) the green tab is always for errands, or the red tab is for financial obligations, or the blue tab is for unfinished items around the house.

(I haven’t explored doing this yet, though I’m not opposed to it.)

Finally, some make lists that include categories based on time, like “Immediate/Today” or “This Week” or “This Month” or “Some Day”.

(I really like this idea for my long-term projects and think I’m going to use this to break down the big things into smaller, more manageable chunks.)

Regardless of how the list is handled, for me the important piece is that I’ve written down what I want to accomplish.  And I don’t mean simply doing the dishes or paying the bills or running to the grocery store.  I know there is power in committing, in writing, to the goals I want to accomplish each day, week, month, year and beyond.  So I write them down, break them into smaller pieces to work on, review them for completion or changes, write down more pieces to work on, and the cycle continues.

And kiddo is paying attention.  How do I know?  Because I found his own “To Do” list (resolution, really) taped to my bedroom door this morning.  It was written (with the help of hubby) and said, “Written to Mom – (Kiddo) wants to be a pastry chef and a breakfast, lunch and dinner chef.  This is a food chef.”

I asked him why he had written it down and he said, “Because it’s important!  I wanted to remember and you need to know!”

Yes, Little One, it is very important to write down what you want to do and who you will be.  You can be anything you want to, and your dad and I will be cheering you on.  Thank you for sharing the wisdom of your seven-year-old vision with that note.  And don’t be surprised if it reappears sometime in the future; I think I’ll be saving this one to look back on with you some day.