As long as I can remember I have been a list maker. Daily to do lists, shopping lists, weekly goal lists and lists of what I want to accomplish for the upcoming year. The one thing all these lists have in common is that once I make them, I rarely look at them again.
So, are they serving a purpose? They certainly make me feel organized and focused. They also make me feel like I have my priorities in the right place because these lists contain all the things I think a responsible person should be doing. (exercising, eating more vegetables, getting more sleep etc)
I have always heard that making lists has the ability to calm your mind before you go to bed. It really does work. When I get into bed my mind starts recapping the day and planning the next. If I have taken the time to put to paper my goals and to-dos, I am less stressed about forgetting all the important things I have to to the next day. This is probably one of the reasons I sleep so well.
Here is the other thing I have noticed about my lists. If I go back and acutally look at old lists in my planner, I realize I never did a lot of the things I meant to do. I guess those things really never mattered in the long run. At the time I thought they did.
In the magazine ID, September, 2019 issue there was an interesting articel about the making of lists and their importance to our wellbeing.
In the articel David Allen, author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, helps to explain some things that I have experienced.
In today's world there is simply too much that we have to remember. Just think about your password list! We are bombarded with information at such an accelerated rate our brains become overwhelmed. Your brain tries to figure out a way to deal with all this information. Because only a few things can be held in our short-term memory, most of it ends up circulating just below the conscious level.
But since our minds have no sense of the past, present or future, all bits of information are equal. Your brain is always trying to process these bits of information just below the conscious level. This is why you will have things pop into your conscious level when you really are not in a position to do anything about them. This is the first way lists are helpful. They keep all of these disconnected thoughts documented and clears some of that clutter in the mind so you can focus on the task at hand. This is why so many people have a hard time doing meditation. Try making a list before you meditate!
In order for your lists not to get out of control Dr. Martin Krengal, in the same article, has a plan. He suggests having two lists: a master list containing what you want to accomplish for the year, and a weekly list that we refer to on a daily basis.The weekly list can be broken down into days or categories. He also suggests prudence when deciding to add something new to one of your lists. Understand your limitations. Perhaps delete something when adding something.
By following this simple advice I can avoid looking back at my lists and feeling disappointed because of lack of completing items.
Then I can use my master list to guide my weekly list. I have never really done that. My master list and weekly lists were usually not really related and the reason, I think, things get left undone. Obviously I am not talking about my grocery store lists or chore lists, but only those lists that are goal oriented.
The bottom line is that lists clear the mind of a lot of data that just tumbles around in your brain, resurfacing at times when you are involved in something else, effecting your efficiency. List making can clear out those excess thoughts and help you focus in the moment. If made correctly, can also move you toward your goals in an organized fashion.
Anything that can clear your mind will reduce the stress felt throughout your body. Anything that keeps you more organized will also reduce your stress. Think of it as decluttering your brain.
Remember one of my basic tenets is- whatever happens in the mind the body follows, If there is turmoil in the mind, there will be turmoil in the body in the form of digestive issues, heart issues, blood sugar issues and immune issues. Seeing that your goals are organized, and you are working systematically toward them with your weekly goals will help you feel more balanced and less stressed. Your brain will be free to sit and enjoy idleness. Besides, checking things off a to do list is very rewarding.
With this information, I am looking at my lists a little differently. I can't wait to look back at my lists and see that I have done what I set out to do!
