I have no idea if I made lists as a child, and I am assuming that I did when I ran a successful aerobics company in the 1980’s, or when I emigrated from England to Australia.  These things are lost in the SDAM* filing cabinet – probably for all time.  But I do recall making lists when I worked full-time.  In fact my basic daily must-do list was so detailed that I eventually printed it onto huge sticky labels to save time.  I then stuck a label into my equally large desk diary every morning and completed the ‘ceremony’ by adding in in the less routine things that required attention that day.  My stress, at that time, was so intense that without that list I could not achieve everything I had to do, and missing something could prove disastrous.  It was as if crossing something off the list as it was completed was the anchor that held me to daily life. 

Now, 30 years later, I am still an avid list maker.  Every day starts with making coffee and then making my lists for the day.  The first entry on that list is a reminder that my friend in the US will call, and even though we talk almost every day it has to be on the list so I can cross it off when we stop talking. 

Next is an entry to read a chapter of the Tao Te Ching.  I’d been doing that for 367 days when I decided to take a break, but it’s still written on that list every morning. I will get back to it soon,  Not crossing it off the list as completed is starting to get to me!   There’s a reminder to exercise and a reminder to meditate – both with spaces so I can fill in what styles I chose to do, how long and anything specific to mention about the activity.  I list which areas of my house I want to clean that day including laundry and any gardening, and there is a notation about what I am studying.  I have a reminder to put the rubbish bins out on Mondays and to bring them in and give them a scrub on Tuesdays.  And, of course, a reminder to write this blog.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg!!

There’s the shopping list.  I carefully write this one out.  I take my dedicated shopping list notebook and head into my pantry, my fridge, I fall into the chest freezer seeing what needs topping up, I check the cleaning cupboard and then, almost every time I go shopping, I leave the list sitting on the kitchen counter and have to wing it at the grocery store!

Right now I am being very daring.  I am moving house.  I started making lists of everything that went into each packing case.  That lasted for 4 boxes and I decided to step out of my comfort zone.  Now the boxes are sitting on the floor of the new house waiting to surprise me. 

I’ve also just received some Government funding and need to find a company authorised to manage it for me.  A search tells me that there are 31 such companies operating in my small town.  Somehow I doubt it – there are only 1300 people living here!! A list was needed.  Not just any list, but a whole spreadsheet of information!!  I spent two days on that and then decided to post a question on Facebook about it.  One private message and a phone call later and the spreadsheet was no longer needed! 

Sometimes lists are essential.  Sometimes they are distractions.  Sometimes they are massive time-wasters!

Oh My!  Now I’m in trouble.  I’ve just realised that I don’t have a list of all the crystals and stones I have.  Or my books. 

What do you make lists of? 

*SDAM – Severely Dysfunctional Autobiographical Memory