lists are boring

Do you harbour any other myths about lists?

Are you a list-maker?

Are your lists working for you?

I have to say that today’s question is one of my favourites

Simply because lists are some of my favourite things in the world.

Amanda Jean says:

I need help making To-Do lists, I know that sounds too easy but I’ve never been a list maker and don’t know where to start. I need help knowing how to get started with each new task. Or motivational ideas to keep you going with you’ve reached the need for a second wind.

Lots of questions within that question.

Here’s my answer:

I’m actually a huge fan of to-do lists and I believe you need to have at least three but for today’s purpose, we’ll talk about two

a master to-do list

this is one with everything under the sun, so you don’t lose any of it while going about life

and a daily/ weekly to-do list

this is where you take things from your master list and add them to a shorter, more manageable list.

(if my master list wasn’t such a mess of colour and scribbles, I’d take a pic and show you)

Don’t put more than 6 items on your daily to-do list.

6 seems to be my comfort number. If I add any more than that, I still only do 5 or 6. When you do get your 5 or 6 done (whatever your comfort number is), you’ll feel AWESOME and productive

On starting

Start with the one that may be the most difficult but is the one that will bring you the closest to your goals. I call these tasks frogs.

On getting motivated

Here are some of my ideas. Accountability is a big one for me.

How do you make your to-do list? And then how do you tackle yours?

So I saw this little project while blog-surfing yesterday and I signed up.

It’s called 30 days of lists.

I couldn’t resist.

It’s only $6 and is a lovely, journally, scrapbook thing to do for September.

You get prompts for the list of the day and can just write a list (that’s going to be me) or you can (be a perfectionist and) make it pretty and crafty. They provide you with 3 different sizes and formats of the questions so you can literally just print out your preferred size (A4, A5 or A6) – I’m doing A5 – put it together and start writing.

My nod to crafty will be printing on brightly coloured project board/ paper. And then using binder rings to assemble my book.

this is how much I love making lists… look on the spine

Hey – maybe I’ll let the kids do 30 days of scribbles with me? Won’t it be cute? It’s growing on me….actually I’m going to do it! I’ll give into being soppy. I don’t think it’s going to be hugely impressive right now but in a couple of years those scribbles are going to be awfully cute.

I’ve looked through the prompts because I’m a control freak like that and there are 5 I am not interested in so hopefully I’ll make other kinds of lists on those days. Whatever takes my fancy.

I also like that September is spring and that signals new beginnings and other such good things.
So who wants to play along?

Do you like lists?

If there’s interest…. every 5 days I’ll put up a linky and you can take a pic of your completed page (s) or not if you just want to talk about the process.

Otherwise just consider this a fun public service announcement brought to you by Organising Queen.

PS I don’t get any affiliate commission – I love it and thought you might enjoy it too.

In the process of updating my 36 things list and making a new 37 things list, and talking about these a bit too much with friends and colleagues, I realised a few things:

1. some things are always going to be easier to accomplish if you tell people

e.g. last year I had an item on my list “learn to cook a roast”

When I shared this with some friends, two of them sent me their tried and tested roast recipes and I’ve since made a roast 2 – 3 times. Shall I count the first, very bland attempt?

Also, lesson for me – learn to accept help from people

2. you need to have a mix of easy and stretch goals

Both years I aimed to have a mix of big goals like “write a book” (by the way, it’s done – I’m in the midst of the boring bits now, like getting quotes to get the cover designed, put on Kindle, etc.) and small goals like “go for a massage once a month”.

It’s important for me (and I’m guessing for you) to FEEL victorious, and the smaller goals get the momentum moving very nicely. It’s as easy as booking the first one and then at each massage, booking the next.

3. focus is vital for success

When I teach my goal-setting (or goal-getting ) courses, I often talk about how writing things down solidifies things in your mind and gets you focussed.

This is so true.

Sometimes you’re not aware of how important something is to you til you write/ type it.

One item on both years’ lists is to do a certain number of random acts of kindness.

It’s very important to me to leave the world a better place and make a difference.

And so by writing it down, I’m consciously seeking out ways to bring a smile, a laugh, a word of encouragement to others.

If someone says x, I’m listening with normal ears, but also with my “random acts of kindness” ears and maybe they’ll get a little note from me, or a little gift, or a link to an inspiring article.

Coaching challenge

1. Do you have a list? It may not be anywhere near your birthday but that’s no reason to not have a list of 5 – 10 big and small things you want to do over the next 6 months, or year.

2. Do you need to ask for help?

3. Get an accountability partner or hire me as your coach

Do you live in Gauteng?

Do you need some time out?

Bookings are now open for the live workshop I’ll be holding on Saturday morning, 13 August.

Click here to find out the full scoop and see how you can join me.

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I had so very many questions in the recent survey from readers wanting to know how I manage to do it all.

I’m not sure if I should be flattered that you think I do it all because I really don’t.

Yes, I probably do a lot because I’ve always had quite a bit of energy but there’s much more I don’t do.

Let me explain:

1. I’m very clear on my life purpose

I have a life mission typed out (not pretty or cute, just typed out) and I know my definition of success in life.

I also know my values. A quick secret – one of those values is not to have the laundry perfectly done (far from it), but it is to take consistent action.

Are you clear on your life purpose?

2. I’m best friends with “good enough”

For me, it’s better to have something done than have it perfect.

If you’re cringing at that sentence, let me tell you that I used to be you. Until I got coached on the fact that trying to get the last 20% of any project perfect usually takes more time than it took to do the previous 80%.

E.g. if I think of something that’s completely out of my comfort zone, making a picture collage in Picasa, it literally takes a few minutes to select some pics and group them in a collage. The playing with it to get the best configuration with the best background and font, etc, etc takes about 3 – 5 times longer than just the collage.

Of course, there is a time and place for prettying something up – maybe for your children’s birthday party *ahem* but for general sending out of occasional pics to family, it’s not necessary to be perfect. Good enough is more than fine.

Do you know when 80% is enough, or are you still stuck on perfect?

3. I have a To Not Do list

We all know there are 24 hours in a day and there is not enough time to do everything.

So it is key to know which things to leave on the To Not Do list.

In my business, I do only things that need my “essence” (for lack of a better word) and delegate the rest.

My virtual assistant, Patricia, uploads my articles to the directories and does everything on my to Not do list.

In my personal life, it’s important for me to cook from scratch (I like knowing what the “babies” eat) but I don’t peel and chop the veggies myself, the nanny and Pick & Pay help with that.

Can you see the difference?

4. I decide where I want to use my time and I don’t feel guilty about the other areas

Be intentional about your time usage. I watch (it’s on in the background) about 20 minutes of TV Mon – Fri as I change from work clothes, pack gym clothes and work bag, etc.

That’s it.

If you spend more time watching TV because it’s your relaxation, have at it. Don’t feel guilty.

I’ve chosen to do otherwise. Neither is right or wrong.

I do spend about 3 – 3.5 hours on the computer in the evenings, working on the business and connecting with friends through email/ Facebook.

I don’t feel guilty about that time because I know why I’m doing it.

Of course I procrastinate sometimes by surfing blogs too much but since I generally get things done, occasionally if I slip up, I don’t beat myself up about it.

How about you?

Where do you want to be spending your time and why? Are you intentional about it?

5. I take consistent action

Unfortunately getting things done is not going to just happen so you’ve got to take action all the time.

Whether it’s doing just one big forward leap or lots of little leaps, I try to take some action every day.

I’m fairly good at constantly reviewing where I am in relation to my goals – I don’t know if it’s because that’s just who I am or because I coach.

Confession – when I feel like I’m getting stuck (which happens about two – three times a year), I get specific coaching to help get me unstuck. There is nothing worse for me than that feeling of not moving forward.

I’ve been working with a new coach and one of my key goals for the next 3 months is to start and finish my book. So far so good.

Do you take enough regular action? Do you have a plan when you get stuck?

To end off, let me leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.

-Lin Yutang

I am passionate about life lists in a big way.

This was way before bucket lists became popular a few years ago.

I just love the idea of living life FULL and enriching your experience by tapping into all the little and not-so-little things you’ve always wanted to do.

Recently I spoke about life lists and dreaming big and some people said that they didn’t do life lists for a couple of reasons which I’ll talk about here.

Maybe you can relate to some of them and this article is meant just for you?

1. The idea of writing a list makes me freeze up

No problem. You’re not a linear thinker. Use a mind map format or just start doodling and see what emerges.

Or you could start with a vision board.

2. Writing a list stops me from thinking big because I get stuck in the mundane

That’s okay. Go with the flow. At some point while you’re writing a laundry list of littles, you’ll cross over into the dreaming zone. It’s around 10 – 15 minutes for me.

Try it and see where you go.

3. What if I’m setting myself up for failure?

This is a big one. Have you ever heard the saying, “reach for the moon and you’ll touch the stars”?

That’s my philosophy.

It’s in the reaching that the magic happens.

4. I struggle to set realistic goals

Add things to your list that are really teeny-tiny and super achievable and once you’ve built up a track record of reaching them, start stretching.

5. What if I get disappointed?

I can’t promise you that won’t happen but I can promise you that you’ll be much more disappointed if you never try anything and live with regrets.

Have I convinced you yet?

Do you have new questions for me? Post in the comments.

P.S. The things on my life list include places to see, things to do, things to accomplish, fun things to try, etc.

There are two types of people in this world – those who like lists and those who don’t.

This post is for those who don’t like lists

lists are boring

A list is only as boring as your imagination! You can and should put some fun things on there too as well as tasks to do.

I recently started putting things like “finish James Patterson book” on my weekend lists because all I was doing was chores. I loved the change so much that I now regularly put fun things like “phone _____ for a lovely, long chat” and “paint fingernails” on my lists just to jazz them up

lists are a bind because they have tons of items on them

Well, that depends on the type of list. A master list and a checklist often do have tons of things on them but a daily to-do list really should have no more than about 6 items.

I’ve shared before how when I only have 6 items on my to-do list, I get through them all easily but when I try to be SuperWoman and add lots more, I get even less than 6 done! I showed a coaching client my diary once and she was amazed.

When you find the right list, your life will change

No, no, no! The list is only the tool.

I used to subscribe to tons of productivity sites and really, many of them were all about the perfect tool. A tool is exactly that – something to help you get something else done.

Many people are so intent on creating the perfect list or finding the perfect planner that they get into an analysis paralysis mentality.

Because when you’re obsessing about the perfect to-do list, you stop actually doing the things on the list, right?

The truth is it doesn’t matter what you use as long as you get it down somewhere – whether on a post-it note, in a gorgeous notebook or in your phone.

So how am I doing with my lists?

I still use a weekly list and take off up to 6 items (sometimes a lot less) to do in a day.

My new  favourite thing is doing a mind-map list for my weekly planning. I do a spoke for each area of my life – husband, babies, house, work, business, health and fitness, etc. And then, off each spoke, I make new mini-branches with things I have to do.

Do you have any other beliefs about list-making?

Do you make lists? What works well for you?

P.S. There are some lovely lists (standard ones and mind maps) waiting for you in the free Organising Success Pack

Today’s my birthday!

I’ve been working on a list called 36 things to do once I turn 36 (as I’m 36 today) and thought I’d share some of them with you.

I firmly believe that when we “write down the vision and make it plain” it focuses us and helps us go for those goals.

That and the fact that maybe some people will help you realise some of your goals

Without further ado, here is a portion of my list:

1. Go on a beach holiday with the babies.
2. Travel internationally with Dion.
3. Once they can both walk, book a photo shoot (I want cute pics of them walking!)
4. Do random acts of kindness
5. Meet up with 3 blog/ online friends
6. Get involved in some form of ministry again, maybe talks at church?
7. Complete my vision book (it’s now too big for a board so I’m doing a double spread per area of my life, like family, travel, work, business, etc.)
8. Learn to make a halfway decent blog header with photos in less than 30 minutes
9. Learn to let go
10. Get better with my skincare routine
11. Give an unexpected gift to someone every week
12. Lower my expectations of myself and of others
13. Have lunch with a friend once a month
14. Get my website redesigned
15. Live a simpler life

If you feel so inclined, I’d love you to leave me a comment and tell me one thing on your life list, or if you don’t have a life list, your to-do list will do

When I coach people or do speaking engagements, I always stress the importance of writing things down.

Why?

When you write things down, it frees your mind for more big picture thinking and you don’t have to worry about the details.

So these are the 3 lists I suggest you absolutely should use to manage your time more effectively:

1. Master list

This is a place for a “brain dump”, a place for ideas you might want to pursue in the future or possible projects you need to tackle.

You can work off one master list for months, like I do with my business or blogging ideas. Or you can have a master list for a certain period, like a week, and then rewrite it at the start of the next week.

I have a master list of things to do in the house which I’ve been working on since we moved in four years ago. Honestly, I think there will always be items on this list.

2. To-do list

This list can be monthly, weekly or daily.

The difference between this list and the master list is that this one has a time deadline to it.

I have a monthly to-do list – I keep this one with broad goals like go to the gym 10 – 12 times – a weekly to-do list with about 5 – 7 business tasks to get done and then my daily to-do list which spreads out those 5 – 7 tasks so that I have only 1 or 2 to do daily.

I want to caution you to only put a maximum of 6 items on your daily to-do list so you don’t become overwhelmed!

3. Checklist

This is a place with a list of items which you check/ tick off.

This list is ideal for anything you need to do regularly, like a list of weekly cleaning tasks, office supplies, routine business tasks, etc.

Once you start using the right list for the correct task, you’ll be flying!

You can download free master to-do and other lists at http://takechargesolutions.org or http://organiseyourbusiness.com

Do you use lists? Which are your favourite ones?

P.S. Mine is my weekly to-do list

I never could understand how it was that some women didn’t take care of themselves.

Until now.

Because now I’ve had babies it is a different ball game altogether!

I didn’t notice while I was still in the hospital because they wake you so early with coffee/ tea but the day after I was discharged, I realised something is a bit off…what is it???

Oh my word! I’m not hungry.

And that’s how it started.

After a few days of being at home, I realised that I wasn’t eating breakfast until HOURS after I’d woken. When I was pregnant, I’d wake and literally have to eat something within minutes because I woke up starving.

Not so anymore.

I also realised I’d just grab the first thing available (some biscuits (cookies) or rusks with my tea) which is not good!

Good thing I had the awareness before it got even more out of hand. I decided I had to do something about it because I have to take care of me first before I can take care of the babies.

So now when I do my to-do list every day, my no. 1 item is Eat Breakfast.

What’s no. 1 on your to-do list?