Lists

My husband likes to keep lists. He used to do it all the time and it overwhelmed me. Who wants to be reminded of the mountain of work ahead of them? I've started keeping lists. I wrote one this morning. I used to be overwhelmed because I'd see the 25 things he had to accomplish and it looked hopeless and discouraging. I've since discovered the satisfaction of sitting down with the same list at the end of the day and looking at all off the things I've crossed off. The days that I don't make lists I wander around the house and try to do things as I remember them but I waste a lot of time and I inevitably forget something that should have been done.

Here are some guidelines that I've developed about list making that turn it into a positive experience!

1. Be realistic! Don't write more things down than you could realistically do in one day. It's discouraging to see that you didn't finish everything you wanted to.
2. Add some easy tasks like "take a shower" or "have lunch break". They're things that you'd probably do with or without a list, but it feels good to cross them out and makes you feel like you're making some list progress.
3. When you accomplish the things you've set for the day give yourself permission to take a break and don't add onto your list!! There will always be more work and you'll always have things you could be doing that need to be done, but pace yourself and remember that you can make another list tomorrow!! If you are working through your day with no end in sight it's easier to give up.

I hope these help. It's taken me months to arrive at these conclusions but now I feel way more productive and my "me-time" is guiltless because I feel it's well-earned!