I love making lists. It makes me feel like I’m getting something done, and it makes me feel better knowing I’m not going to forget to do whatever it is that I’m writing down. I’ve even gone so far as to publish a list-making how-to guide. Just my way of giving back my knowledge of this very calming compulsion of mine.
List-making can be a very useful tool, in moderation. The problem is when you don’t move beyond the list to actually accomplishing something. Because making the list doesn’t mean anything; you have to follow through on it.
I make lists for a number of reasons. Here are my top three (even here, I can’t help but make a list, lol).
- I’m forgetful, so if I write things down then I don’t have to worry about forgetting to do them.
- It helps me get organized and be able to see everything I have to get done at a glance, so I can then better utilize my time.
- And lists help me feel in control of the things on them, just by writing them down. Being able to break things down into smaller pieces helps with this even more.
The last reason on the list is probably the biggest one for me. I can tell when I’m starting to get stressed out, because the number of lists around my house increases exponentially. If something’s making me uncomfortable, I make a list about it in order to make it seem less scary. Most of the time, it works. And while it may be a little weird, it’s a pretty healthy and helpful behavior.
The problem arises when the lists grow while the action stops. There have been times that I’ve made a four-page, intricately detailed list about something that I needed to do, and then the task in question never even got started. I never got past the list. The list is not supposed to be the goal; the list is supposed to be a tool to help accomplish the goal.
Lists can also be related to perfectionism. In an effort to make things perfect, we never get past the organizing and planning stage, because we want our plan to be perfect before we start. The problem with this behavior is that the plan is never going to be perfect, and therefore the work is never going to get done.
If you’re a compulsive list maker, and I know some of you are, you really need to keep an eye on this kind of behavior. If the list isn’t actually accomplishing anything, or helping you accomplish anything, you need to throw it away. I know that can be painful, but when you start making lists of this nature, it can turn into a huge waste of time. It sucks you in while getting nothing done, and when you’re done you’re going to be right back where you started: with an intimidating and unfinished task.
I’m not saying that making lists, even long and detailed ones, is a bad thing. It can be very useful in helping you to get organized and save you time in the long run by allowing you to efficiently plan what you’re going to do. I’m not even saying that using list-making as a form of therapy rather than an organizational tool is a bad thing. It only crosses that line into maladaptive behavior and neuroticism when the lists start to take over your life and keep you from getting anything done. Put down the notepad and get started already!
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I LOVE that you make lists to escape the stress of all of your lists. that’s so awesome. As for me, i make a shopping list. that’s about it. i tend to lose lists so i rely more on my memory. which sucks, and I end up forgetting stuff. oops. yay lists!
I have been told I should make lists of my lists – starting with the one telling me not to forget the list! Any amount over 3 things, I’m a goner without a list. My personal favorite is the check-off list which I always forget to make. Oh well. Thank you Higher Power for inventing the Post-It. I use them to wallpaper my room.
And you forgot to mention that lists must be self explanatory or you’re not going to remember what the entry means.
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