I love writing lists. Clearly this is part of my 'I'm all about the planning' personality.
I recently found a notebook with January resolutions in it, from 07. I'm ashamed to admit, they were all the same as this years, as I had completed fuck all of them. Hmm.
I find writing lists soothing, though. It allows me to get the tangle of stuff that's in my head halfway organised, and clearer, helps me see what's doable after all, what isn't and doesn't need to be thought about.
Lots of items are there permanently:
Tesco, milk bread eggs
recycling
ironing (often the same pile as on the last list)
hoover
post letter you haven't got round to posting in months...
sort clothes in bedroom
claim tax back, get bupa receipts sorted
Other lists are things I can't do yet, but listing them makes me feel like I might yet be able to one day:
new carpets
French doors in kitchen
wall of shelves
Shomra
custom built wardrobes in bedroom
new windows, front door
range cooker
sustainable energy stuff
Self improvement lists:
Lose weight
exercise
stop shouting at daughter
be tidy
Less computer
And aspirational lists :
Buy Children's Writers' handbook, find agent
Illustrate books
massage course
Italian class
I'd highly recommend the list process for when you wake up at night and can't sleep for thinking. It tends to get it out of your head, like a pensieve.
I was cheered when I read an article about to-do lists and how they can be counter productive. The writer's friend had been writing 'move paint can in sitting room' on her to do lists for about six months. That's me, that is.
I would happily upload a photo of one of my lists, but I've needed to buy batteries for the camera since Good Friday.
