Spending a great deal of time at home during quarantine can have different effects on different people and different personalities. Some people thrive, reorganize their homes, hone their cooking skills, and more while others might flounder a bit and have a hard time accomplishing what seems to be the simplest of tasks. One isn’t better than the other, they’re just at opposite ends of the spectrum. We all have to cope with our circumstances the best we know how.
Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, making a list is not only a great way to stay organized but also an excellent manner by which to feel a sense of accomplishment.
I’ve been a life-long list maker. It started when I was a student because I quickly learned that if I didn’t write things down, I’d forget to take care of them. This carried on to my professional life too. I found myself developing a great list system. At the end of each day, I’d sit at my desk and write a new list for the next day. I’d start by carrying over any open items from today’s list and add any new to-dos. I’d leave the office each day feeling like I took care of things and I’d return each morning with a good understanding of what my day would hold.
We’ve all created and used lists in a variety of ways, from grocery lists to lists of names for our babies or pets, so we all understand the value. The value is so apparent that there are a multitude of online tools from websites to apps for our smartphones - they’re great, but only if they work well for you. Sometimes, the best tool is paper and pen.
With a written list, you can adapt it and how you manage it to your needs. For me, I cross each item off completely as I tackle it and circle each item that needs to be carried onto the next day. Another great method is to put a circle next to an incomplete task and the first letter of the day for it to be completed. The key is to find a method that works best for you - and remember, this is YOUR list, so it only has to work for and to make sense for YOU.
For more advice on Organizing and basically getting your shit together, feel free to reach out to Jeffrey Our Organization Expert!