Lists . . . Updated!

So, last week Tuesday (that would be 1 1/2 weeks ago) I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish in the period of one week. I thought I would let you know how it went.

1. Make supper (you like how I have to put this on the list? 5 pm rolls around and I have simply FORGOTTEN to make supper. I have had this jar of dry chili mix sitting on the counter for days. Today is the day!) I have been much better with this, actually making a meal most of the days and having it planned or made by lunch time! Yeah for me!
2. Put away laundry (the laundry that has been sitting in the basket for days). Well, this is never-ending. Yes, I did put some away but created more so I think I won't put this on the list again - it depresses me that it is always undone!
3. Clean up my bedroom. (I believe your bedroom should be a sanctuary, a retreat from the chaos that envelops the rest of the house. Our bedroom is the worst room in the house, well, next to the office. See #4). My room is amazingly clean right now (well, for me, anyway). And feels so much like a sanctuary. Especially since I have made the bed everyday - something else I don't usually do. The room looks so pretty when it is clean and tidy! Who would have thought??!!
4. Clean up the office. Still working on this one.
5. Vacuum carpets. (The only carpets in our house are in our bedroom and the office. Which are so messy you cannot really see the floor. Thus, #3 and #4.) Did the bedroom but not the office. Not clean enough yet.
6. Clean up garage from the garage sale. Did a very little bit. Still lots to do. Van still parks outside. You think that would be motivation. Maybe tomorrow?
7. Post maternity clothes online. Uh, nope.
8. Decorate for fall. (This I would rather have at #1 and then skip the rest of the list). YES I DID!!
9. Clean bathrooms. (They are okay for now but won't be when I actually get to this!) Yup!
10. Sort lego. (Subject for another post another day!) Done!

Lessons learned? Don't make a list with 10 things on it and expect to finish it in one day. Like, really! What was I thinking? So, now I have a notebook with a master list of things that need to be accomplished. I take 3-5 of them and make a daily list. If I get them done, they get checked off the master list, the one that is never-ending, and move on to the next thing. If I don't get it done, it stays on the list until it does. We will see how this goes. My goal is to make myself feel good for having accomplished my list, not make myself feel like a failure because 90% of the list is not completed! Make sense?

Lists, Lists, Lists

I know the "good" thing to do when trying to organize your day is to make a list of all the things that need accomplishing then start at the top and work your way down. Check, check, check when all is done. A feeling of great accomplishment is achieved! Not so much for me. I think about all that needs to be done, and the list is ALWAYS loooooooong, and I get so overwhelmed, I skip the list and accomplish nothing. One of my friends mentioned a slightly altered way of doing the list and so I am going to try that for this week. Her suggestion was this - make your list but then number it in order of priority. Duh! Why didn't I think of that? So, here is my list for the week, numbered in order of priority. I will renumber it each day, just in case something more urgent pops up but I will try to maintain these same items. Hopefully by the end of the week, the list is finished.

1. Make supper (you like how I have to put this on the list? 5 pm rolls around and I have simply FORGOTTEN to make supper. I have had this jar of dry chili mix sitting on the counter for days. Today is the day!)
2. Put away laundry (the laundry that has been sitting in the basket for days).
3. Clean up my bedroom. (I believe your bedroom should be a sanctuary, a retreat from the chaos that envelops the rest of the house. Our bedroom is the worst room in the house, well, next to the office. See #4).
4. Clean up the office.
5. Vacuum carpets. (The only carpets in our house are in our bedroom and the office. Which are so messy you cannot really see the floor. Thus, #3 and #4.)
6. Clean up garage from the garage sale.
7. Post maternity clothes online.
8. Decorate for fall. (This I would rather have at #1 and then skip the rest of the list).
9. Clean bathrooms. (They are okay for now but won't be when I actually get to this!)
10. Sort lego. (Subject for another post another day!)

This list doesn't include the obvious like teach school, get dressed, make breakfast, breathe. Maybe it should. Then I could check something off!

Wish me luck!