Making Lists and Getting Things Done!

I’ve started making lists and I’m actually getting stuff done. Imagine that, huh?

My mind had been filled with a flurry of tasks, but I wasn’t accomplishing anything because as I went to do something, I’d get side tracked.

Every. Time.

Then I remembered something I was told in this class I took about dealing with stress and life issues (which I took because I thought it would help me when the day came I needed heart surgery). Teacher suggested I write down four things I wanted to accomplish that day and how good it would feel to mark stuff off. I figured I had nothing to lose by trying.

Boy, does that list making thing WORK. I feel so much less frazzled. And it DOES feel good crossing stuff off. Really good.

Since making my lists, I finally sent that e-mail to the Santa Barbara Visitor’s Bureau to request brochures on their beaches. I want these for a convention in May, but if I can’t get them, I need time to figure out another plan. I can’t afford to procrastinate here. I’ve been meaning to do this since September, but kept forgetting or would tell myself I’d do it after such and such thing, which never happened. But I put it on my list and BAM! It got done.

Since making my lists, I finally got my post cards ordered for that same convention (I can’t sell my books at the book signing so I want to give away post cards of the covers). So glad to get that over and done with. I have Vista Print to partially thank for kicking my butt into gear. If not for their sale (which ended yesterday), I might not have listed it. But I did and I finished it. Yeah!

Since making my lists, I finally called my mom to tell her I’m coming out to visit and to make sure she heard about my son’s upcoming wedding (I told my dad, but sometimes he forgets to pass info on). You’d think I wouldn’t need to write this down, but every time I remembered to call her it was either too early or too late (I cannot interrupt her soaps, you see, and she’s in PST and I’m in EST). Seeing “Call Mom” on the list over and over reminded me at the right time! Whoo hoo!

I tend to write down more than 4 things each day, but look to accomplish at least 4. And so far I’ve only included non-writing issues. Next I need to try and include writing. But my problem has never been about writing. It’s been about the stuff that’s keeping me from writing. So if I can keep a list for completing non-writing stuff and get that done efficiently, it will certainly clear up my mind to write. At least, that’s my hope. **fingers crossed**

Football Update:

• High School: Wayne lost in the Region 3 final. What a shocker. They did not play like they played all season. Passes were missed. Mistakes were made. It was a very stressful game. I was hoping we’d at least go into overtime (we’d been tied what seemed like forever), but the other team scored a field goal with no time left on the clock. At least most of our team will return next year and they certainly went farther than we even dreamed at the beginning of the season.
• College: OSU Buckeyes squeaked by with a win. I wasn’t able to see this game, and it was probably just as well. USC Trojans beat their rivals, UCLA. Very happy about that one and if the game hadn’t started so late (10:30pm my time), I would have watched it, too.
• NFL: Steelers finally won, but then they were playing the winless Browns. Hey, I’ll take the win. Rams could have won their game, but apparently they only know how to play 3 quarters. What a disappointment.

So… How do you manage to accomplish tasks/errands? Do you make lists? Have a To Do jar and pull from that? Does your system work? Please share!

Happy Monday!

Stacy