Lists

Last blog post I zoomed in on how to bring meaning to your life by focusing or refocusing on activities that you have ownership of and that are meaningful to you. Now I’d like to talk about strategies that have helped me to stay on task and refocus.

I have started making lists and prioritising the tasks I write on my list. My brother and sister make lists and have always suggested to me to do this myself. I ignored their good advice and continued on my own merry way. Now I am a list maker and have discovered the very real benefits.

I usually start by writing down what has to be done and what I would like to do. I then mentally sort them into groups of must do now, needs to be done in the near future and tasks that can wait a while. Once I’ve done this I start on the things I need to do now. Making a list does not set your work into concrete as you can reprioritise depending on circumstance and add to the list as needed.

Making a list has helped me get a lot more done in a shorter time and most importantly makes me feel like I have really accomplished something, no matter how trivial or small the task is. When I am unwell the list may only include getting out of bed and having a shower. However, just doing this can help me to look positively at myself and the day as I tick that off the list. It helps me to focus on what I have done rather than thinking and looking at what I have not done.

It also helps me to be more efficient with my time. I usually make a list at the start of the day and review the list as I go along. Some tasks are a given like brushing my teeth and don’t get written down however there is nothing too trivial that can’t be put on the list particularly when you are struggling to remember what has been done and what is still to be started.

Lists don’t need to cover the whole day or week but can be broken down into smaller time frames like this morning I will do the washing and hang it out. Always keep in mind that your day does need time out for relaxing or resting.

You will discover that you will be able to focus on what can be done and you will feel good when you tick it off. Start today with a short list over a short time frame then add more tasks over the day. Make your list achievable but at the same time you can write down reminders to yourself re future activities.