I was having one of those days. You know… the days you feel like your head is in a whirlwind of things you need to do and your mentally-written to-do list replays like a two-song play list. I frantically searched for my trusty notebook, which was already filled with lists I compulsively made, sometimes even in my sleep.
After jotting a few tasks down, I felt a little better. I allowed myself to take a break and clear my head. I wanted to tackle my list, but I still had the sinking feeling of being overwhelmed. Looking at my list, I saw that my tasks required different kinds of attention, and multiple stops to make. I opened a fresh sheet of my notebook and divided a page into three parts. I decided to reformat my To-Do list to an Action List.
The first third was my “action” list. These were things that needed to be accomplished, and it seemed to be easier to complete if it was read on the page as: action first, task second. For example, it was imperative that I email my sons’ physical forms to their academic counselor, so instead of “Sarah–email forms” I wrote EMAIL–Sarah physical forms. Again, “mail Arden’s shirt” became SHIP–Arden’s shirt. Having all of the actions in a list underneath each other made it easy for my eyes to pinpoint what was the important task and what it required. It took up less headspace and helped me complete the task faster!
The second two-thirds of the action list have been divided into things I needed to purchase for projects and home groceries. Some of these things could be easily purchased at the grocery store, but other items I could only purchase at our local specialty store. When I listed these items in my to-do list such as “pick up ingredients for biscotti”, or “pick up shipping supplies”, they tended to get lost and overlooked, and my projects weren’t completed as timely as I’d like. Dividing the products I needed to pick up by store helped immensely to ensure nothing was overlooked. It was also great not having to run to the store last-second to finish a product or project.
Preparation is so important. Simple changes can make a big impact! Having your day laid out in front of you can help you get your work done faster, leaving you more time for the things you can lose yourself, and your time in!