Are you a list maker?
 

I have a small notebook that I keep in my purse and where I write down every chore, errand, appointment, etc. that I have and then cross it off when I'm done. Heck, sometimes if I do something that isn't on the list I will write it in just so I can cross it off and remember that I did it. Keeps me organized and that way I don't forget anything.

Are you all list makers? Or do you just prefer to fly by the seat of your pants as it were?

I'm a total list maker. I also leave post-its all over my desk at work, and I will write the same thing all over my planner. I have so much on my mind often that missing even the slightest thing (especially related to work ;) ) could make life very difficult!

The only time I EVER make a list is if I'm going grocery shopping and need to buy specific things. Other than that, the last list I made was The List, if you know what I mean, and I didn't even save that. ;)

If it's not in my Palm Pilot, it doesn't exist. :p

My dad had a system that worked well for him. Every evening except Saturday, he would take a 3x5 index card and write down everything he had to do the next day, both work-related and not. The next day, he would keep that card in his pocket, and cross things off as he did them. He never wrote a card for Sunday because that's the Sabbath (he's Catholic). I don't think he does the cards any more, now that he's retired.

He tried to get me to use the same system when I was about 12. My cards all looked the same: go to school, do homework. :rolleyes: After a few months, I stopped making them, and got an electronic organizer instead.

My lists exist on post-it notes. They're everywhere. When I clean, I'll find post-it notes from months and months ago stuck to something.

When I started using a PDA, I'd make lists on there, but found that I was still using post-it notes. Just not as frequently.

I have a (small) whiteboard that I write down my list of stuff to do each day, and check it off when I'm finished. I'd love to have an electronic organizer, though!

i'm a total listmaker. an electronic organizer wouldn't do me any good because i'd have to write on my list to remember to enter dates on my electronic organizer.

If I loose my PDA, I won't know what I'm supposed to do for the day.

I only make lists when I'm RIDICULOUSLY overwhelmed. Other than that, I'll just make a list in my head and mentally cross stuff off as I go. But I've I've got a hectic week, I'll put myself on a schedule. I make a list of everything I've got to do and have a time by which I want each thing to be done.

I'm always ridiculously overwhelmed and I live by lists and calendars. If I don't make lists, I ruminate about what I have to do and never get anything done (nor do I sleep!). If I have a list, then I can just focus on getting it done without thinking about what else I have to do.

ETA: I don't function well unless I'm ridiculously overwhelmed. What's up with that?

i'm really thinking about getting a PDA... i've never made that electronic plunge

I make lists frequently but lose them just as frequently

Oh, that is me to a T! I always feel better just from making a list and crossing things off.
Remember these words of wisdom:
"Always write down the important things. Later, you can forget where you wrote them." ;)

I'm a huge post-it fan. I write my lists on them. I'm dying for an iPaq, though, because I'm always forgetting where I put the list or losing it in my purse.

nah I usually just remember stuff.

I had an IPAQ but sold it last year. I would put everything on it and then leave it in my purse for a few weeks, til the battery was totally dead, then I'd have to re-install everything. Paper works better for me. My lists are generally in notebooks. If I have a list that has to be portable, it goes in my wallet.

Daily list, weekly list, monthly list. No list, no life.

I've discovered that I tend to not get things done when I make lists.

Usually when I walk out the door I already have a good idea of what I need to get done, I make a mental note of it, and it gets done based on its priority.

I use a daily planner. I found that the constantly changing assignments and exceptions of college made me need one. Aside from that, I don't really make lists in real life, except for traveling/going away, and I leave them in several places (my poor mom finds reminders taped to the back and front doors that say, "DO YOU HAVE YOUR INSULIN? NEEDLES? GLUCOMETER? GLUCOSE TABS?" from years ago.

If I don't make lists, I walk around aimlessly. I forget to go to work (I have a flexible schedule that is different every day of the week), I forget to go to meetings. My school passes out handbooks to all students every year, and last year, I lost mine. I really just sat there not knowing what to do. It was terrible.

i think the actual act of making the list and remembering what i have to do is more useful to me than the paper list i get when I done. I do like to make them to organize my thoughts! So i guess it's not too big of a deal when i lose one

For a quick trip to the store I use paper for groceries, and if I have other small errands I make a list to make sure that I did everything possible. I live in a small town and a lot of things close early or have odd hours, so I even add their hours at times, just so I can budget my time better in the event I run into a friend and start chatting.

For longterm lists, such as meetings, school, events, etc; it all ends up in my Palm, as well as in a paper based planner the University publishes. That has every holiday/payday/sporting event/club meeting/drop dates/ and so on listed, so it makes planning easier. This has cut way down on conflicts for planning events.

Ironically my sister called me this morning and said while going through a pile of crap to organize, she found an article about avoiding clutter. She had also written on her list "make a list". Love it.

I have to make lists or I'm a MESS!!

When I run errands, I have to make a list of the places I have to go and what I need from each place. Then I have to plan my route. Otherwise I'm roaming aimlessly around LA and wasting gas.

You know, some of the things I take note of are private thoughts. And the thoughts that aren't so private, like remembering chores, I won't be able to grab a post-it if I'm driving or in the middle of conversation. So, I use a mnenomic (sp?) system where I can remember up to 25 things at a time. Usually at the end of the day I put those things from memory into my PDA for longterm.

When I make lists, it's helps me sort through what I need to do.

If I go without a list to the grocery store, I always remember halfway going home the one thing I forgot to get.

Here's a interesting site that's about found things, including to-do lists. Found Magazine

Lists are my #1 weapon against my ADD. I'm totally helpless without them.

I do a few things by list like grocery shop and the monthly budget,otherwise I do day to day things as needed. The only other time Ialways make a list is when I travel. I make an itemized list of everything I pack,otherwise something always gets left behind.

Me, too. Once I make the list, the chances are good that I'll remember 99% of what's on it.

I keep a list in each of my suitcases of what I'm taking (they're always all packed, except the clothes - I need to remember which clothes I've taken!). I also keep a list of what I need to research in my genealogical case - it makes it so much easier to get right to work, instead of wondering who to look for first!

that is me 100%! i am also the person who mentioned post its everywhere on her desk.

I'm totally a list maker! I also have a planner that plots out the hours in the day, plus a monthly over-view. I love it! But to add on to it I make my Daily List containing: homework, where I need to go that day, what all I need to do, sorority stuff...also budgeting gets done on my daily list.


I actually like writing this down by hand, so I feel that if I had a PDA I"d just ignore.... besides paper and pen is sooo much cheaper.

I love to make lists, especially with my bills and investments-I cross the bill out when it is paid and write the amount pd next to it (or amt. invested). I also make lists for house chores, errands and goals for the year. Too many lists, so little time.

Thank you for responding, all you list makers! Now I don't feel quite so OCD about it :)

I write notes on the back of my hand, if that's what you mean :p

I even have a master list of everything I'd like to remodel/replace/fix/paint for each room in my house. I'm knocking off the cheap stuff first. Someday when I have money, I'm going for the big stuff (like building a garage and remodeling the kitchen completely).

I tried it and it doesn't work for me. The same thing with my calendar. In fact, I was writing things into lists and calendars after I'd bought them. Now I'm a post-it guy. My desk is littered with phone numbers, dates, things I need to buy or take care of all on multi-colored post-its. I'm not even really sure what some of them mean. I hate post-its.

-Rudey

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I'd be dead without a white board on our fridge. I think our family would stop if I didn't have use a master calendar. It's on a kitchen wall by the phone and it's HUGE. Think desk blotter size with big blocks for each date and a 'notes' section. Yes, I do color-coordinate each of us to make it easier to see who has what going on.

Other than that, I make lists most of the time for the grocery store, or Target/Walmart runs. I also make lists of books for the library, and of course birthday and holiday gift lists!

I love lists! Ya'll should see my grocery list, it's insanely OCD. Once I make the meal plans and figure out what I need to buy I make a list. This list I break down further into departments and list them in the order I encounter them around the grocery store. For example I would list:

Produce:
lettuce
green pepper
fresh fruit

Frozen:
pizza
corn

Bread:
bread
hot dog buns

This allows me to easily grab everything in one complete circuit around the store with no backtracking. Also, as I put each item in the cart I round up and jot down how much it will be. As I finish each section I add to find the subtotal and then add the subtotals as I work my way around the store. This means that as I get to the register I have a fair idea how much it's going to run and it's easier to spot mistakes when my things are rung up.

*whew* It sounds like a lot of work but it really makes my life easier.

Haha I just wrote my grocery list now, and it is similar to that. I have pounds of chicken noted, and also the size of apples and such. Anything I buy in bulk I have the exact weight/volume I need. I even make notes of coupons and such. The Safeway receipts have every item in a separate category, frozen, produce, etc. For those of us with the anal retentive behaviors it makes it to easy! My roommates trip out on my efficiency and that I can calculate how much money I spent on cheese any given month.

As for the totals, my state taxes on groceries (wtf?) so I have my maximum amount to spend minus the tax. This is now a lot easier as our tax dropped to five percent. Helps me decide if I want a treat or an item not on my list.

I do the same with my grocery lists, with sales/coupons noted. I go one step further even. When I make my list, I am mentally walking down the aisles of the store so that it's all in order. I abhor grocery shopping and that speeds it up a lot. The less time I'm in that darn store, the better. I get so excited when I'm down to the freezer stuff because those are the last 3 aisles.

Dee

I HATE grocery shopping, too, but I found a way to make it a little easier: I made a list of everything I tend to buy, then separated it by the aisles in my favorite grocery store. I then made a document on it, and was able to put it twice on the one sheet of paper (along with space at the bottoms so I can add anything extra). I print it out every few months & make copies. Then, when I go shopping, I highlight the things I need in one color, and the things I need & have coupons for in another.

How's that for OCD? :)