I make lists too - but as my daily life is totally bi-lingual, depending on whom I talk to - my shopping lists are in whatever language (French or English) happens to go through my head at the time. The other day I was in the Hypermarket in France, and checked my list (which happened to be in English on that day) then I got to 'pain'. 'Pain' why on earth do I want to buy 'pain'??? Paracetamol? Ipobrufen? Couldn't work it out - and then OH said 'du pain' = 'bread' - duh! Good job I didn't put 'batteries' in French on my list (=piles!).
My DH works in engineering and recently worked with some Japanese visitors in Nissan car factory. He was walking around "the job" saying "I will put this on my "To Do" list, making notes as he went around.
A week later he returned to site and met up with the same engineers who announced that they too had "TOE DOE " lists and had printed special sheets out all headed with ............ TOE DOE
This morning I have 53 things on my list. (It was 54 but I have just crossed out: "Ask Cari if yoga's app works on an iPhone.") I am ashamed to say this is a really good number for me. Has been known to hit 100. Can't quite see why the list gets longer during the week.
I love lists - at work I've been christened the 'list queen'. I enjoy putting something on that I have already done, just for the pleasure of crossing it off. Then when it gets too messy, I start a new list, all nice and tidy until the next time! Sad!!
I write notes to myself on the backs of envelopes and prop them up in prominent places. The idea is that I see them at appropriate times and do whatever it is straight away. Sometimes it works.
I am an inveterate list maker. It's how I start my working day and how I plan any event. As a child any pocket money i had was spent on stationery, I loved to write and draw on beautiful paper, preferably deckled.
Now I'm an almost complete convert to my iPhone & iPad for list making, and although I am still drawn to stationery I rarely buy any as I know I'll seldom use it.
The first thing I used to do when I got to work (after making coffee) at 7.00 was to make a list. Then my PA would come in and amend it, because she remembered things that I didn't. (I want to be that woman..)
Now, list are essential, but they are all to do with, mainly, the important trivia of my life. Like: buy coffee; write cheque for...etc. even "take pills"!
I have lists for all sorts of things. A printed out list for holiday packing. A christmas card list. On the computer I have a birthday and anniversary list. I have a list of bank and building society accounts because I forget where I put my money and I need it for when I do the tax form. A few years ago I would have remembered all these things.
I like making lists. Then i don't have to worry about forgetting chores.
I am about to make a list of every item of clothing I own, probably with photos, not because I can't remember what I've got, I just fancy doing it. A sort of art project.
Wow Yogagran I must find that app. It's right up my street, it won't replace my various books though, but will make a welcome addition to the addiction.
I love the smell of paper too Gally and ginny and the feel of the lovely new smooth sheets.
90 day plans sound a bit ambitious for me janeainsworth I find it hard to plan for the week never mind 3 months!
I find that making a list is very therapeutic when I get that feeling of being overwhelmed by having too many things to do and worried that I might forget something. Seeing the written list makes it much easier to decide which has to be prioritised and of course there's the feeling of satisfaction when so,mething is crossed off, especially when it's something that has been bugging me for a while. When I was working I used to do 90-day plans to set out short term goals and that was useful too - sometimes you feel as though you're not achieving anything, but when you look back you can see what changes you have been able to make.
For anyone with an Android phone or tablet there's a neat little app called "Do It Tomorrow". You create a list for the day and anything that is not crossed off that day will appear on the list for the next day