lists

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My To-dos May Become My Daily Score Card

I’m thinking about changing up how I keep track of my to-dos each day.

my to-dos may become my daily score card

Probably everyone has a method for making sure they remember what they have to do. Some people have everything organized in their steel trap of a mind. But not everyone can remember all the little things they either need to or want to get done in a day.

That’s were a system comes in handy.

The tried and true method is to write things down on a piece of paper and mark them off when they are done.

In our day and age we can do that but we also have the luxury of tracking to-dos electronically. We can make lists on our phone or computer or tablet. 

For a long time I’ve gravitated to the digital method. I have an app on my phone, tablet and computer that instantly is updated regardless of what device I’m using at the time. 

Over the last several months, however, I’ve gravitated to the more traditional method. I write out my list and check each item off with a pen.

I’ve noticed a couple of things during this time: 

First, I really like scratching several lines through a task I’ve completed AND making a big check mark beside it. There is something satisfying about doing that, more satisfying than merely clicking the item on my phone and having it disappear. 

I actually like to see the things I’ve completed. I somehow get pleasure in it. Just having a shorter list in front of me doesn’t give me the same sense of accomplishment.

It’s like playing hockey as a kid versus playing hockey as an adult. 

In some kids’ leagues they don’t post the real score, presumably to not discourage the kids. But believe me, when my son was a kid, he didn’t need a score board to know whether his team was winning or losing. 

As adults we like to see the score on the screen. It’s comforting to see a lead building up or to visualize that you just have one goal to catch up.

Every scratch and check mark I make is like I scored another goal. I am defeating the list. 

The second thing I noticed is I don’t like having to write everything out again every day. Nor do I like having to keep the paper with me. 

I want to make my list and, if I have to roll things over to the next day, I don’t want to have to write them out again. I also want to see it on all my devices.

You can’t do that with paper.

So with my recent desire to obliterate each of my to-dos with a heavy line that almost tears through the paper, and my aversion to writing things out again and again, I’m experimenting with a change.

I may go to a hybrid method where I have my to-dos on an electronic list, but also print a copy that I can rough up, check into the boards and score some goals on.

Here’s the thing: Like with our to-dos, we may at times feel we need to change things with our time with God. You can keep doing the same thing, but if your time with God is not satisfying, find a way to change it a little. Try a different time of day, journaling, writing out your prayer, using a devotional guide, or a different one. Don’t keep doing the same thing expecting different results. We all know what that’s a definition of.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What do you need to consider doing differently? Leave your comments and questions below.

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Writing Things Down Can Ensure Success

Writing things down increases your potential every day. 

writing things down can ensure success

… You might be thinking, “That’s a pretty bold statement. Do you have facts to back it up?” 

Well, no I don’t. 

I suppose I could find some facts that would support my statement at least in part. But I think my own testimony is good enough on this topic.

We rely heavily on our memory and, thankfully, for the most part, our memory is great. 

You don’t have to think about so many things during the day because your memory brings them to the forefront of your mind and you just act on them. 

Your phone number – you don’t have to think about it. Your address – you recite it automatically. You know your co-workers’ names by heart. 

It is amazing how often our memory assists us. 

However, when you have work to accomplish, something you want to put into your memory, or just something you don’t want to forget, writing it down is a better option than relying solely on your memory. 

This is what I have found … 

For all the things I need to accomplish in a day, or things I want to accomplish, if I keep them all in my memory I am more likely not to accomplish everything on my mental list. 

But if I write out a to-do list of the things I have in my mind to accomplish, I have a much greater success rate. 

I’m not sure why that is. Maybe, if it’s only in my mind, it’s not prioritized; it’s simply one of many things that needs to be done. 

I am more apt to think, “I’ll get to it sometime today” … but that sometime may never come.

Writing things down keeps you more focussed. There is something about seeing that task in front of you and crossing it off when it is complete that keeps you locked into the things that are a priority. 

Recently I was having a difficult time staying focussed all day long. I knew what I needed to get done, so I didn’t bother to write anything down. 

And every day that week my work ran out of hours in the day. There were times that I wasn’t productive. Basically I wasted time. 

I had things to do but I figured I still had a bit of time to look into something that was not on my mental agenda. … I never got back to the things I wanted to get done in time to actually get them done. 

When Friday came around I was way behind on what I needed to accomplish. 

So I did two things: first I tidied up my desk – I feel better when my desk is clear. Then I wrote out a list of tasks I needed to get done.

One by one I checked them off my list. I didn’t deviate from my list; I wasn’t even tempted. 

Writing things down gave me the focus and motivation I needed to get all my work done. 

Here’s the thing: When you make a commitment to God, or you believe God wants you to do something, if you just keep that in your memory, you may or may not get around to it. But if you write it down, you will be more likely to follow through on what God is asking of you.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What things do you need to write down today, in order to accomplish them? Leave your comments and questions below.

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My Lists Just Keeps Getting Longer

At this time of year more people are carrying around lists. Christmas time is probably the “king of lists” – mine just keeps growing. 

list, getting longer

Most people set out to make a list and then work at checking the items or actions off the list until they have completed everything. 

My lists are getting longer and longer. We are getting closer and closer to Christmas but my lists are on pace to keep me going until well into the new year. 

My Christmas “things to do” list is similar to my kind of grocery list. While some people will methodically plan their route and cross off the items as they put them into the cart, I see something and add it to the list as I place it in the cart. 

… Oh I cross it out, but by the time I’m finished, I’ve added quite a few things that my wife, Lily, didn’t request and often really didn’t want in the house. 

I feel that my list of tasks this Christmas is much like that. Every time I go to cross something off the list, I have to add one or two more things. 

What makes matters worse is that Lily is adding things to my growing list. That should not be allowed; you keep your list to yourself. Everyone has his own list(s) and shouldn’t need to be helping someone else cross items off her list … especially at Christmas. 

I remember a time when I couldn’t wait to look at a list. The coach would post those who made the team and if your name was on the list, you were in. We would practically climb over each other’s backs to get a glimpse of the names on that list. 

The lists I’m making now don’t hold any of that anticipation or excitement.

I don’t like pulling out my list now, unless it is to check something off … and then I want to do it really quickly so that I don’t think of something else I need to add to it. 

I make my lists electronically these days. I can make a list on my computer and be able to see it and update it on my phone or iPad. I am never without it.

In the days when I used to make paper lists, sometimes I would have to remake them, so that I would be writing out the same item several times if I didn’t get it checked off soon enough.  

I had a list once that was in my pocket for a good week or more. It was so long that it resembled a child’s Christmas toy list. 

I kept at that list, checking things off one by one. By the time I got to the end of the list, the fibres in the paper had changed. The list felt more like it was written on a Kleenex tissue. And no, when I crossed off the last item, I did not blow my nose with the list. 

Right now I wish my current list would magically disappear.

Here’s the thing: There is a list that is really important and it’s a list that you want to get your name on. The Bible says that after Christ returns, He will bring out the Book of Life and it will list everyone who will join Christ in heaven. I want to be on that list, and you will want to also. Placing your faith in Christ is what is needed to get on that list. Add that to your Christmas list this year if you’re not already on Christ’s list. 

That’s Life! 

Paul

Question: How important is completing your list this Christmas? Leave your comments and questions below.