October 6, 2006 • Print This Post
The infamous To Do List. Every morning I would sit on the sofa and do my to do list, but I’ve gotten away from it for some reason. This is what a typical to do list would look like.
1) Coffee and go outside with the dog, breathing in the early morning air
2) Exercise
3) eat healthy breakfast
4) answer e-mail
.5) Write
6) Let the dog out
7) Dust
clean the bathrooms
9) write
10) fix lunch (healthy, of course)
11) write
12) business–marketing etc
13) vacuum
14) let the dog out
15 write
16 fix supper
But it always ended up more like this:
1) Fix a latte because you get a pot of coffee in one cup, let the damn dog out because she’s raising hell. Did the neighbor set his trash out last night. What is that godawful stench?
2) Go through closet looking for something to wear, tossing clothes on the dusty treadmill because they don’t fit anymore. Washing shrinks them every time.
3) let the dog in because she’s scratching at the door. SHE goes to her bed and back to sleep. It must be nice. I’m a writer though and have a deadline.
4) Breakfast: Is there any Pop Tarts left? Yes! Success. Watch a little of the morning show in case I might get a good idea, and finish off the last piece of cake. The Pop Tart wasn’t very big.
5) e-mail:
6) e-mail
7) e-mail
e-mail
9) Oops, lunch time but I’ll just grab a bite and get right to work
10) There is nothing in the house to eat. Run to Sonic which is soooo close and grab a burger and Dr Pepper
11) Feed dog part of burger and let her out
12) Nap
13) Nap
14) Nap
15) e-mail
16) e-mail
17) e-mail
18) Is it that late???? Oh, man!!! I need to write
19) write
20) write
21) hubby comes home. Tiptoes to door of office and peeks in. I glance up and smile. He whispers that he’ll fix supper but I make myself get up from the computer and we visit while we fix supper together. After all, he is my husband. Watch TV, go to bed.
I think I know why I stopped doing to do lists!
Okay, I don’t actually waste that much time. LOL But have you ever started out with good intentions only to fizzle half way through a project? What gave you the motivation to keep going. I’ve heard visualizing your end goal works. Anyone tried that?
Woo-hoo, I’m giving away a copy of Hell On Wheels to two lucky persons who respond to this e-mail today. They’ll be drawn at random.
Karen Kelley
Available Now! Hell On Wheels/Brava
Available Now! Texas Bad Boys/Brava
04/07 Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind/Brav
Posted by Karen Kelley @ 8:02 am • Filed under: Karen Kelley
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I am usually pretty good about finishing what I start or what I need to do. However, there are days where I hit a slump and nothing except a reward for finishing a project will really motivate me. The “carrot” is frequently coffee and cake at a cafe the day after I finish what is necessary.
I usually try to get what needs to be done by reminding myself that if I get busy, I can get it accomplished and have time to do fun stuff afterwards.
Ohhh, good idea.
I’ve also been thinking about using an egg timer when I’m doing e-mail or cleaning house. I think I’d love using it while cleaning. Ahhh, can’t clean another thing, the timer went off. What a shame.
I think a specific reward would work for me. I’m getting better at self-discipline. The older we get….
Karen,
you are the best example why I don’t do any of those list. LOL
Good luck everyone for the drawing. It’s a really fantastic book!
I make list but forget to even look at them, lol.
It’s easy to get side tracked, too many things going on.
I am a procrastinator so I say to heck with lists!
Maybe I should keep with the ‘no more list rule’
And yes, I’ve made them and forgotten where I put the blasted thing, too! I’m geting better about procrastination…sort of.
Wow great prize!
Yes of course I have “The LIST” - it always makes me feel better to have it down on paper. Not that I get it all done. But to have it all organized in print is an accomplishment.
Nah, don’t bother with lists because then I get down on myself for not accomplishing what is on it.
I make lists all the time. Dont get everything done right away, but I try.
I have a list that I try to go by, but sometimes I get sidetracked at which point I just pick up from where I left off on the list……….
Hell on Wheels is a great book………..
I liked your second list better! I tried to make a list once. I lost it.
Now the first thing on my “to-do” list is…Stop making stupid lists you are only to lose!
Seriously, I wish I were an organized person, but that’s just not me. I’m a fly by the seat of your pants kinda gal. I know what has to be done and I do it, most important things first. But I admire people who can organize like that.
I try to live by the Douglas Adams quote that says:
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
I usually have a plan in mind, but there always seems a monkey wrench gets thrown into the works.
So, I just go with the flow and throw it into the plan for another day. 
Sometimes I make a list, most times I do not. I did have a big list tho’ when planning our wedding.:smile:
I don’t bother with lists. I’ve somehow managed to get into a routine that works for me.:shock:
I do make lists sometimes. I am pretty good about taking care of things on it - most times anyway.
I’m the Queen of Procrastination And Disorganization. Nothing helps, not lists, because I tend to lose them.
i do make list karen. i get them done real quick. glad to see you at writerspace
I am having my family over for Thanksgiving and I will make up this huge list in October of everything I want to get done before this. I will start crossing things off and then right before Thanksgiving I will abandon the list and just get done what I can.
It is funny that you should mention to do lists. I have one I am using for this week on my refrigerator. I made it because I am going to the hospital on Tuesday, October 10th to have my baby girl. My family is travelling over her as well as my mother-in-law. I have cleaning tasks that need to be done and I also have things that need to be done before the baby comes home. I made a list for my husband as well. My list is almost finished. My husband has a few things left on his but he is a major procastinator. I keep having to remind him that we are down to the wire.
I am the ultimate procratinator. If I didn’t have an 8 to 5 job, I would never get anything done. On the weekend, I always wake up with good intentions but by early afternoon, I have fizzled out and found something better to do(like read a book).
No am not a list maker. Am a seat of pantser.
For all those procrastinators, I’m in the boat with you. I have elevated procrastination to an art form lol. Don’t get me wrong, if it must be done, it will be (just at the last possible minute):wink: . I guess I work best under pressure.
I’m gaining ground in one area–organization. My son-in-law is in the Air Force so they move a lot. Our daughter was close enough the last couple of years that she taught me the art of downsizing. That and occasionally watching Mission Organization. Less clutter= less cleaning. Duh, why didn’t I figured that out sooner???
It was great to be at the chat last night, too! I always feel out of breath when I finish one, though.
Cherie congrats on the baby!!! Our son and my future daughter have tentatively set next Oct. for their wedding. I love weddings and babies!!
Karen–who just got back from mailing a bunch of prizes for my last contest! Okay, and I shopped, but only a little.
I don’t make To Do lists. I’m retired with more time than most folks. If I have something to do and don’t feel like doing it, I just wait. I know I can finish it tomorrow.
I stopped doing personal to-do lists because they got so depressing when I couldn’t check anything off at the end of the day.
I still attempt them at work (mostly cause we’re supposed to write out daily plans) and if I’m having a really lucky day I might get a couple of the things done. *sigh*
I usually don’t make To Do List’s. When I do they end up looking something like your second list
I am a list maker, but also a procrastinator. For me, deadlines are the biggest motivator when I start to slump. If there isn’t a deadline, then things will get done when they need to get done (ie. the laundry when I’ve run out of “unmentionables” :smile:).
No lists for me. I just hope for the best to remember what it is I have to do.
It’s bedtime but I had a blast chatting with y’all (yes I’m a Texan. The winners are:
On October 6th, 2006 at 11:43 am (e) Lori D. Says:
Nah, don’t bother with lists because then I get down on myself for not accomplishing what is on it.
On October 6th, 2006 at 1:34 pm (e) Susan Says:
I don’t bother with lists. I’ve somehow managed to get into a routine that works for me.
Lori D and Susan just e-mail me your snail mail and e-mail to kskelley@classicnet.net and I’ll get you a book in the mail.
Sleep Tight!
Karen
Congratulations, Lori D and Susan - you are going to love this book……..:wink:
Congrats Lori D and Susan!
Thanks so much Karen, I looking forward to reading Hell On Wheels!:grin: Thanks for the congratulations y’all.
Big congrats Lori & Susan!
The book is so good!!!!!!