Every since I was a young girl, I always enjoyed a good to-do list. I loved crossing things off, and even was the kind that would sneak something on it after I’d already done the task just so I could cross it off. It’s easy to think of a to-do list as a time management or productivity tool. But for me, that’s never been the case.
For me, a To-Do List is an Anxiety-Management Tool.
Everything that gets on it represents a certain amount of risk if it ISN’T done. I’m afraid if it that thought doesn’t make the list, I’m vulnerable and exposed to a undesirable consequence. Sure, some are more aspirations, but those tend to fall in the “Someday, Maybe” category. Most of my task list is full of “Do this, or else.”
My to-do list habit has been front and center on my mind this past few months as I ventured on two long travels for vacation, one that was a bit more complicated and involved: a camping-in-an-RV trip to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks.
My to-do list took on a whole new life this spring and summer, and I thought I’d share a bit of my success in how I managed it, and how a strong to-do list and review process helped manage my anxiety.
Building a Solid To-Do List:
- Every idea and task got captured as soon as it came to my mind (I use the Notes app on my iPhone to manage all my tasks – one that’s organized, and one that’s just capturing brain dump activity to be mingled into the To-Do list if the idea comes to mind at an inconvenient time.) I recently learned how to use voice commands to have Siri append a note an add an item to my “brain dump” list so I could even capture it while driving or busy doing something else.
- Prioritization was typically based on time windows of completion: “before Trip 1”, “right after Trip 1”, “before Trip 2”, “right after Trip 2”, “Not Time Bound, Can Wait” and “Someday, Maybe”. What’s the difference between those last two? Things that “can wait” are things that still need to be done but didn’t need to be prioritized before trips when more critical things needed to be tackled. “Someday, maybe” are inspiration and aspiration; I want to capture them, but they don’t necessarily get prioritized and scheduled in the same way “need to be done” would.
- I used a checklist format, rather than deleting items. Why? Back to anxiety. If I deleted something off the list, I’d have no record of whether or not I’d done it, and with so much going on, it is easy to forget. “Did I remember to stop the mail?? Oh, yes, there it is; I have it checked off.” Items were only deleted once I was *confident* that I no longer need to keep track of their completion.
- I created a SEPARATE to-do list for packing for the trips, so I could focus on that and only that when my brain needed to. I was able to re-use a lot of the first trip but the second trip (camping, gear, food planning, different clothing needs) was unique enough it need its own list, which I started months ago).
Reviewing the To-Do List:
- I was always reviewing for when a task should be tackled, getting it into my schedule, and shifting when necessary or advantageous. Is this something I can get done sooner, or does it have to wait for a certain window to be done (That “hold the mail” reservation can’t be done until a specific period before the trip, so doing it TOO far in advance isn’t an option.)
- Location matters – some tasks are geography dependent, and need a strategy. Is this an “out of the house” errand or something that can be done at home? If it’s out-of-the-house, when will I do that?
- I planned for inconvenience. I reminded myself that I can’t count on everything going my way, so doing tasks as soon as I can left me breathing room for the tighter times, closer to the trips, where time might not be on my side. I call it “a Gift to Future Kathy” of less stress.” I broke things down into specific weeks as new trips were coming, and could evaluate what’s on deck for next week to see if I could pull it closer and get it done sooner, or if it wasn’t as pressing or not possible to get done in that week I’d picked.
It was great to have this holding spot WHILE we were traveling, when new things came my way (like while checking my email) and I had a spot to place them for prioritization upon return. I also really appreciated knowing that my re-entry came with a sense of order; I already knew what I needed to focus on and accomplish as I transitioned back to the real world and operating my businesses.
By understanding that staying on top of these lists AND using them as guidepost for my time and my energy, I truly appreciated that this was all about managing my anxiety about everything that had to happen in order to take a great vacation, and after all, who wants to be anxious while on vacation?
Is YOUR To-Do List Ready for a Makeover?
I’m passionate about to-do lists and the processes that support them, in case you couldn’t tell. Working on a “To-Do List Makeover” with my clients is one of my favorite parts of Productivity Coaching. I love diving deep with them to figure out what’s holding people back from getting more done, initiating and following through with the tasks they say are important to them but they just don’t seem to get mobilized on, and helping them get in the right groove to move forward.
I have a strategy I’ve been using for years with my clients, and I’m thrilled that Alan P. Brown of ADDCrusher(TM), Crusher Solutions invited me to speak about this in his Crush It at Work & School 2024 Summit! I’m one of 20 ADHD/Executive Functioning Gurus who are presenting on a variety of topics in a virtual summit from August 26-29, 2024. It is FREE to attend! Yes, that’s right, FREE! These speakers are full of strategies for Adults AND Students to Crush It and Work and School, and I’m personally a big fan of many of my colleagues on this virtual stage.
This free virtual summit runs four days (August 26-29) and every day, Alan will share 5 short interviews. The videos will be available to watch anytime within that 24-hour period. Again, registration is FREE, so click HERE to register and reserve your seat so you can be ready to check out the following:
Monday, August 26
Tuesday, August 27
Wednesday, August 28
Thursday, August 29
I mean, this is a jam-packed line-up of some of the top experts in this field who want to see people Crush It at Work and at School. Does that sound like you or someone you know? Register today!
A little camping vacation photo for you: Schawbacher’s Landing, Grand Teton National Park, WY, taking at sunrise (we were there 30 minutes before first light, and well after the sun rose! A highlight of our trip, and a magical couple of hours focusing on nothing else!
