Photo by tanakawho
People are obsessed with making lists. To-do lists, grocery lists, life lists, chore lists, Bucket Lists and more. What is our fascination with organization?
There’s something irresistibly satisfying about checking off an item on our to-do list. It’s the feeling of productivity, accomplishment and the knowledge you’ve freed up an afternoon to do something fun, like watch soaps in your pajamas…or get more work done.
Doing it wrong. Photo by Candice Walsh
But most of us seem to keep lists for everything, and the compulsion borders on obsession. In fact, take this conversation between Matador Life’s editor Leigh Shulman and I which exemplifies the insanity of list-makers:
Leigh: I came to the realization that I need to update my to-do list and separate it into four lists for each of my main projects. If someone would pay me to update my own to-do list, I could make a full time job out of it.
Candice: I’m the same way, lists written everywhere. My friend once told me I should write a list of reasons why I like making lists.
While browsing through a bookstore the other day, I came across a book titled Listography. The whole idea is actually based on the website, where people can sign up for “life in lists.” There’s everything from “people who have changed my life” to “websites with the best animals.” My only question is how did I not find this site earlier?
Weekend Wish List. Photo by Carina Port
Then there’s the curious question of what our lists say about us. What do we place at the top? Why do we prefer handwritten vs digital, or vice versa? Perhaps the following will enlighten.
The Digital List
Pros
-You’re being environmentally friendly
-Quick and easy editing
-The ability to update and keep track of your list via email, so it’s with you almost always
-Store a list on your phone, complete with reminder alerts to keep you on your toes
-The satisfaction of deleting tasks entirely
Cons
-They lack personal touch
-If you switch back and forth between computers, things get complicated
-You can’t express your creativity through doodling
New Years Resolution list of short and long term goals. Photo by Susan Forshner
The Handwritten List
Pros
-You can stick it in a backpack or purse and carry it anywhere
-If you have an affinity for stationery, fancy pens are a bonus
Photo by JoAnna Haugen
-You can keep all the lists in a journal
-Striking out a task with a flourish of the wrist is fun
Cons
-They’re easily misplaced
-Paper causes unnecessary clutter
-You’ll inevitably start a dozen different lists and start sticking them around your workspace
(And yes, I’m aware those were lists.)
Some websites even like to capitalize on our OCD behavior by offering spreadsheets and organizational tools for download, such as Productive Flourishing and Four Hour Work Week. These websites encourage being aware of your goals, setting the bar high, and getting stuff done. Productive Flourishing even offers “momentum coaching,” a process meant to generate new ideas and develop brainstorming methods. What does all this say about list-makers? We’re brilliant, obviously. Sometimes we just need a push.
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14 Comments... join the discussion!
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The handwritten option doesn’t necessarily have to be eco-unfriendly. I like to make my to-do lists on old envelopes, flyers, and other scrap pieces of paper lying around (nothing with personal data on it–shred that). Your standard 8.5 x 11 sheet can be cut down to quarters for the perfect list-size scrap paper. When you’re done with that list shred it up (bonus moment of satisfaction!) and recycle it.
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handwritten all the way, with Google calendar reminders for “important” things like paying bills.
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Ahhh … the list. I’m actually thinking about getting a white board so I don’t have to squeeze everything on an itty-bitty scrap of paper.
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I’m such a list maker. I prefer writing mine down on paper. This enables the satisying crossing off as well as any necessary doodling.
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Great idea for a piece Candice!
I use both – OneNote on my main laptop (Evernote on the travel laptop) for every day items. Google Calendar just to email me important reminders and a small notepad for “must-dos within the next 4 hours!”
Yep.
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Handwritten all the way. For me, a list is the first step in a task that requires me to buckle down and just git ‘er done. Opening my laptop inevitably leads to distractions. Plus I’m a very visual person, so when I’m abroad (as I am now), I write lists (and notes, reminders, etc) then stick them on my wall with blue-tack, in lieu of a white-board.
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Good point, Lauren! I often write my shopping lists on the back of envelopes.
I keep meaning to pick up an agenda. But I keep forgetting, because I don’t have an agenda.
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I am a near-obsessive listmaker, mainly because I don’t remember to do things unless I write them down. I’ve got lists at work, lists at home. My personal daily to-do lists are always handwritten–quicker, easier to jot things down without having to print them up. It gives me a way to recycle paper scraps. The other plus: Every time an item scrolls over to the next day, I have to write it out again. This gives me incentive to finish every item on my to-do list that day.
My pre-trip lists of things to do are always digital. Mainly because I re-use most of the items for each trip, so it’s easier to store and not have to reinvent the wheel every time.
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handwritten… in my journal, so they never get misplaced!
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I use both, handwritten for short term and digital for long term goals. Of course then I print them out and post them on the wall so I have to be reminded of them constantly…Looking around my office right now I’ve got a travel hit list for New England, a spreadsheet calendar of literary journal deadlines, a travel writing query list, a list of articles to write, a list of cliches to avoid (from Matador U), two lists for due dates in my grad classes, a list of verbs for annotated bibliographies and two separate to-do lists. Plus I have several manila folders full of more lists….it’s madness.
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I totally love the stickies application on my Mac. I used to cover my walls with stickies and it looked like a rainbow puked all over my room.
The virtual stickies are a great alternative because I can sling them all over my desktop then make the clutter disappear with a click of a button.
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I’m a big list-maker myself. It’s usually on sticky notes or in my notebook. Also, I saw a really cool exhibit in Washington, D.C. on the lists that artists make. Just wrote about it on my own blog.
Handwritten lists FTW!
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I make lists with reminders on my mobile phone. Side effect: the reminder alarm annoys everyone. Including me. So that’s an additional motivation to just get it done
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