Friday 24 April 2009

... to do ...


I have 'to do' lists coming out of my ears.


I used to have short ones, maybe a dozen items of varying importance and time consumption (varying from: post letter to write book).


Then things got busier, so I'd subdivide them: Household (change beds, wash sheets, buy food) Paperwork (file everything, clear desk) Children (W to play with M, take E to ballet) etc. etc.

Now, with the house move and subsequent refurbishment, I now have separate pages for each heading, which are then subdivided further. It is using up my A4 scrap paper (excellent: won't be waste that moves with us) but beginning to hurt my head.

And still the lists grow!!

Will I ever actually get anything done?

9 comments:

Working Mum said...

Ah, a lady after my own heart. After we bought this house I found even lists were inadequate - I now have flow charts for project managing the work on the house!! We're now onto the 'hall, stairs and landing' flow chart!

Catharine Withenay said...

Flow charts - what a fab idea! With arrows and swirly lines and different shapes and colours!

But you do sound as if you've completed some of them... Good luck with the landing!

Unknown said...

I have to do lists for my to do lists. I actually have 3 diaries so that I can put stuff into the right category and put the notes into the correct diary.

And guess what - I forget to look at my diary

Catharine Withenay said...

Blimey - and I thought my life was complicated!

I do have a diary on the computer and a pocket one in my bag ... but of course neither ever meet the other. One day I might hold a formal introduction session. But what if they don't get on? What then?

Maternal Tales said...

Before children I loved writing lists. Always got everything done. Now I don't seem to find the time to even write a list. Or when I do it's on some random piece of paper which I lose. It's all in my head darling. It's all in my head!

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Oh those lists! I agree wholeheartedly with maternal tales. I recommend a whiteboard in the kitchen...I can stare at it or rub things out to my heart's content!!

Thank you for all your great comments. You said you would be my friend on "Mummy bloggers"...I will accept but just have not got around to it. Sorry. I still haven't worked out how to ask other people to be my friends either. It's just like being back at school!!!

Good luck with the lists and the move. Hx.

Expat mum said...

Having worked in the Time Management field for a while in a former life, those bloody to do lists often cause more stress than they are trying to prevent. The trick is "bite sixed chunks" which means that you should only try to accomplish a handful a day, and not sit staring at three or four pages of them!

Catharine Withenay said...

MT - I understand what you mean, but trying to explain to my husband what is in my head is an uphill struggle...

Hadriana - good to hear from you. I'll add the whiteboard to the 'buy for new house' list. (That is probably the longest and most frightening list, but not actually implementable for another month or so!)

EM - I think I try bite-size chunks by sub-dividing. It does help. And the best bit is crossing them off...!

Maternal Tales said...

I have another list for you. Just tagged you over at mine. Hope you don't mind!

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