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My Love/Hate Relationship With The To-Do List

My Love/Hate Relationship With The To-Do List

Posted on: Sunday 18 February 2018


I love a good list. I realise that statement makes me sound like the most rock and roll person ever, but there really is something satisfying about writing things down and crossing them out again, which is kind of odd when you put it like that isn't it? There's no denying that lists are extremely useful. I make them when I need to pack for a holiday, or even just one night away, which helps me never forget anything (apart from my toothbrush because it wouldn't be a holiday if you didn't forget your toothbrush and have to buy a ridiculously overpriced one from the airport would it?). I make a to-do list for each blog post so I know that I've taken the photos I need and that I've proof-read and scheduled it. And then there's the everyday to-do list, the one that includes odd jobs, cleaning and that I even put blogging stuff on even though I have a separate list for that too. LOL. Toldya I love lists.

Despite being a self-confessed to-do list fiend (and if that isn't a title to be proud of what is eh?) I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with them over the years. On the one hand, making a to-do list in the morning and managing to cross it all off by the end of the day makes me feel pretty darn good.  On the other, if I make a list and don't cross everything off, I feel like a failure even if I've got a lot done because there's always that non-crossed off job jeering at me (I'm making it sound very dramatic I know). I tend to go through phases of making a list every single day and then not making any at all. At the moment I'm going through a no list phase and I have to admit, I don't really like it.

Not making lists makes me feel like I should be less stressed, but in reality all it does is make me less productive and stressed about not getting anything done, while at the same time letting jobs pile up and not doing anything about it. The fact that I don't get to cross a job off a to-do list makes me less likely to do that job in the first place. It's sad, but it's true. So, how can I keep up my to-do lists while not driving myself mad when I don't manage to cross everything off it? Natalie had the genius idea of only putting two things on her to-do list per day and I tried that for a while. It was good for my stress levels, but I didn't get enough done, so I've decided to implement that rule when I'm at work and then when I have a day off I can up it to include everything that still needs doing.

Whether it'll be permanent or not who knows, but for now I am firmly back in the list making camp.

Are you a to-do list lover or hater?

Amy x

Comments

  1. I have SO many to do lists, my phone is literally full of them and I'm an absolute slave to completing them - I have lists for my lists, I'm slightly crazy about it. I honestly dont know what I'd do if my phone died and I lost them all!

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    1. Oooh see I love a physical list, I need to physically be able to cross something out haha!

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  2. Love a good to-do list. Hope your week is off to a great start!

    Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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    1. Thanks Gemma, hope you're having a lovely week! xx

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  3. I used to make a lot of to-do lists and even schedule in times. They were successful but made me feel so bad if I didn't get things done! I'm a little bit more relaxed about them now!!
    Have a lovely day :)
    Rosanna x
    Rose's Rooftop

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    1. Yeah strict ones really stress me out! I'm just trying to make them more manageable in the time I actually have! xx

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  4. Your new method of only shortening your to-do lists for days when you're at work sounds like a good idea, I hope that works well for you! I'm also a complete list-addict and adore them for any and every reason, haha.

    Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice x

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    1. It really helps me be less stressed during the week but then be able to have a really productive weekend/day off! xx

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  5. Making lists calms me down so much, without them I get too panicked about everything I have to do. But I also feel ya about stressing when you don't cross the stuff off!

    https://lauralovette.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Oooh that's interesting - I do tend to forget stuff if I don't write it down! xx

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  6. I seem to go through phases of not writing a to-do list for ages and then suddenly writing them every day. If I've got lots of things to do and I find I'm worrying about forgetting to do things I need or really want to do, I find it makes me feel a teeny bit less stressed if I write them down x

    Jenny | Luxestyle

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    1. Yeah I do the exact same in terms of phases, I definitely find I'm more productive when I'm writing things down! xx

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  7. Love a good list, but sometimes seeing everything I have to accomplish makes me feel overwhelmed.

    Shann Eileen | www.shanneileen.com

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    1. It can be so overwhelming can't it! Making them shorter helps :) xx

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  8. I'm a self-confessed list addict too for sure. I cant do without them really, I'd never even remember everything I had to do because there's such a lot of it (I really struggle to adult haha). The lists are what keep me on track - and yes, like you, I have lists of lists within lists and some of the items are on a few lists because they are relelvant to difference timeframes AND different categories. God that sounds mad, but anyway. Using the two item rule for work days sounds like a pretty good shout! xxx

    Sophie | Sophar So Good

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    1. I think I definitely feel more overwhelmed without a list than with one - I like to know what I need to do and just need to learn that just because it's written there doesn't mean I have to do it all at once! xx

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  9. If there's one thing that my boyfriend always likes to laugh at me for, it's my list making - I border on the obsessive haha! I feel you on the not feeling accomplished just because there's one job remaining front though, it does sometimes cause me more stress than it's worth but I think it's worth it for the general upsurge in productivity that I experience when I've got a list on the go! I've even made a list of blogs that I intend to catch up on this morning during my blog commenting sesh haha, so we are equal in the rock and roll stakes ;-)

    Abbey 😘 http://www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk

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    1. Haha yes to being obsessed with lists! I definitely think it's worth the stress every now and then when it makes me so much more productive! Just got to learn to go easy on myself when it doesn't go to plan haha xx

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