I make lists. It's the only way I can cope with everything I need to remember. I then often lose that list, and have to make another list. I keep finding old lists! There are a lot of lists...….
When I was running my work section I used to make a list at the beginning of the day, and then work through it during the following hours. After I had written the list I would then number the things on the list in order of importance. That wasn't necessarily in the order I had written the list, but it did help me to work out what was a priority. Sometimes I would add to the list during the day. Sometimes my day was a never ending time of ticking lists. Sometimes I hated that list!
Well I still make lists. I have a blackboard in the kitchen and that is regularly full of things to do. Right now it's got a lot of stuff I need to do this week in the build up to mum and dad's anniversary lunch. I have a couple of things that need to be done on Tuesday, one on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. I then have a list of what I need to cook Sunday morning before we go, and the things we need to take on that day. It means I am organised, and hopefully wont forget anything. Sometimes the blackboard is full of the food we need to replace when we are shopping. Sometimes I write on it things I need to post, sometimes what I need to clean, rarely it's got nothing on it.
Lists are what keeps me sane when I'm racing around seemly organising everyone else. In fact I am known as the 'organiser' in my family. I used to be the organiser amongst our friends too. Everyone would get me to work out what time we would meet, where and how we would get there. I didn't mind, the same as I don't mind organising the family events. But sometimes, I suppose, it would be nice to just turn up, not having done anything, a bit more? Mind you when that happens I do spend a fair bit of time before hand asking what I can do, and what I can bring. It seems I just can't rest unless I'm in the middle of everything.
I've thought about this now and again. Why am I the list maker, the organiser? I think it's because, deep down, I want to be needed. It's proving to myself that people want me around, and that I am useful. I don't want to be a burden, and so I put myself 'there' at the front of everything. But it's exhausting! There, I've admitted it. I do get really tired. Right now I am watching my 73 year old uncle running around telephoning everyone about my Auntie's death, sorting the funeral and all that goes with it, and I'm thinking he's going to burn himself out. I have offered to help if needed but sometimes you have to let other people be the 'doer'. I am glad that right now he is that one, and my uncle has always been the key to the family. Everyone goes to him if they need something, or need help or advice. There is always one organiser in our family, and when that one can't do it, someone else takes over the reins. I think it's like that in every family?
I found a list from Christmas the other day. It was tucked in to a magazine I was flicking through to see if I wanted to keep it or not. You do need a clear out now and again! On the back of this list was another list. It was pretty similar to the first one but with a few things added. I think I was all listed out by the looks of things. When you make a list of a list then you are in trouble...….organised, but in trouble!
I will just mention that one advice given to do when you can't sleep is write the things you are thinking about down. As a prolific list maker I have done this. May I just suggest you turn the light on to do it. I have written down things in the dark, and it is absolutely impossible to tell what you wrote about in the morning. Mind you it really does help you stop thinking about it. Unless of course you spend the rest of the following night wondering what you wrote about??
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/9-reasons-why-you-should-use-lists-and-what-you-can-use-them-for.html
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/why-lists-dont-work-and-how-change-that.html
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