Life in progress

Tag Archives: to do lists


by 12 Comments

JusJoJan 6/26 – Intentional

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “intentional,” is brought to us by Dan. Check out his blog here!

I try to be intentional.

By that I mean I have a bunch of things I intend to do every day, and some I intend to get around to.

To this end, I have four calendars—one on my desk that lists my daily to-dos; one that lists those and the times I intend to do them, as well as my “when I get around to it” list; one that I write in when I’ve accomplished something; and one hanging on my wall with family stuff on it.

Despite my four calendars and my best intentions, life almost always gets in the way of getting my to-dos done.

Case in point, it took me fifteen minutes to get from the paragraph above to this one because my son Alex needed my attention.

It’s this sort of “lifeyness” that makes me wonder how anyone sets schedules for themselves a year, a quarter, a month, or even a week in advance.

Maybe I just lack discipline.

Or, most likely, I’m trying to do a bunch of things that require my complete attention, so I’m afraid to get started on them lest something distract me.

So I end up doing nothing.

Maybe my number one intention needs to be closing my door for a set period of time every day and hoping for the best.

This post written with the best of intentions is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thanks again to Dan for the prompt!


by 23 Comments

When having a to-do list sucks

This morning I woke up ready to take on my to-do list. I was pumped and raring to go.

I got out to get my grocery shopping done as I usually do every Tuesday morning … and it only took me 20 minutes to clean off the car and shovel it out.

Got back home at a decent time, and after a bit of doom scrolling I took Alex to his program. Great! I had a couple of hours to get some things crossed off my to-do list.

I just had to get gas first. And pick up Alex’s computer from Best Buy. And stop at Tim Horton’s for lunch—gotta keep my energy up for my to-do list. Oh! And I needed sausages from a different store than I get my groceries at.

Finally I got home … just in time to pick Alex up from his program!

Now, at 4:30, I’m sitting at my computer getting the first thing done that was actually on my to-do list (blogging), and feeling a combination of satisfaction at getting so many things done and frustration that only one of them was on my list.

I don’t know if I need a longer list or I should just say to hell with everything else. 🙄

Suggestions welcome.


by 4 Comments

#JusJoJan the 13th – Protocol

I’ve set up a specific list of to-dos this year—an informal protocol, one might say, for keeping myself on track.

How am I doing with that so far?

Well, my writing and editing have been consistent.

I have walking written down too, but I’ve missed that a couple of days so far.

Blogging? Yeah, not so much.

But you know what trips me up the most?

Stuff I wasn’t expecting.

That stuff does not follow protocol.

No sirree.

***

This tardy (sorry, John!) stream of consciousness post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and John Holton with the prompt, “protocol.” Check out John’s post here. Thank you so much for the prompt, John!


by 25 Comments

Good Riddance

Yes, I’m posting my illegal A to Z Challenge “G” post a day late, and on Sunday, which is supposed to be a day off. If this were baseball, it would either be a triple play or a strike out. Since it’s all contraband posting, my guess is a strike out. But I’m doing it anyway, so that’s four strikes. I’m definitely going to blogger hell.

Anyway, I’d better make this good.

My first online deed this morning was to post something like this on Facebook (“something” meaning I wish I’d made it pretty):

Text reads: Fun game: 1. Make a list of all the things you don’t have time to do in a day. 2. Open the stopwatch on your phone and start it every time you go on Facebook. START NOW

My following Facebook post was something to the effect of “I’m leaving Facebook for a week. Just so you know I’m not ignoring you. Cheers!”

In other words, I’m skipping the “Fun game” and going straight for the stuff I don’t have time for. Feel free to share.

And good riddance, Facebook!


by 12 Comments

#SoCS – Still is the answer, what was the question?

I find it incredibly hard to sit still. Especially when I’m trying to write. If I’m not getting up to get something I’m playing a mindless game on the computer because my brain just can’t handle, most of the time, the intense thought processes it has to go through to get what’s on it, on the screen. I need time to fully picture what I’m going to write before I write it. Once I have that picture I can go – and sometimes, yes, I’ll look up from the screen and realize it’s gotten dark outside without my noticing. Or, “Oh, look at that. I missed dinner time. No wonder I’m hungry.” This is, of course, only when I’m alone. Which is the best time for me to get anything done anyway.

I have a hard time sitting still but I wish my weight reflected that. Normally when I think of someone who’s always on the go I think of a person who is as skinny as a rail. Not me. Which proves that there’s no such thing as a stereotype where busyness is concerned. Then again, usually when I write and I have to distract myself, I end up in the kitchen…

The word “still” bugs me sometimes. At my most stressful times I’m usually saying “I still have to do this,” or “I still have to do that.” There’s always something I still have to do. I never get to the end of the damned “to do” list. That could have something to do with why I’m not sure my manuscript will ever be finished. There’s always a point I want to change or something I want to fix. Perfection must be achieved! Which I know sucks, but I don’t want to be criticized for something I could have fixed but didn’t.

Maybe instead of making my own wine (at the wine store) I’ll eventually end up with my own still in the basement. It may be the cure for all my stress. And hey, I can just pass out down there. That’ll keep me still.

SoCS badge 2015This post is part of Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click here https://lindaghill.com/2015/10/16/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-1715/ to learn more! Come and join us. 🙂