*- "to do" lists -*

[jetboots]

Personally, I am a list keeper.

I tend to find little random pieces of paper and have a list goin. When I run out of room, or I am feeling "new" I just start a new one that includes most of the old one.

The thing is I can not remeber a point in my life since I started making lists that I ever completed my list to the point that I was done EVERYTHING.

It would be soooo nice to have done all of the to do list! Somehow I always find present distractions; with a lot of things planning to do things is more rewarding than actually doing them somehow.

I wouldn't call this procrastinating so much as procrastinalizational optimizing, as I always get everything done somehow. I think its another case of trying to do the most things with the lease amount of effort.

This week I've realized that for the first time in a long time, I actually have a chance to "get ahead of myself" in the next 2 weeks or so. If it happens it will be crazy, like a whole new experience, I will be able to somehow breath better in a way. As much as I like having to do lists and planning it all out, it would be a novel experience to be simply

done.

[Clara]

How can any list be finished if you recopy, and keep adding on? (all of life repeats, right?)

Depends what you list, I guess. :confused:

[jetboots]

well, i just recopy what I havent done yet, not what I have done:P i do get some stuff done, usually I end up taking 50 to 70 percent of the last list and put that on my "new" list and added to that new list are new things.. and perpetual work is the result

[garak]

That's why I don't really like todo lists -- they make life seem like work. The important things stand out in my head without a list to remind me, and the unimportant things ... well, they're unimportant. Who cares?

[hemanthraz]

That's why I don't really like todo lists -- they make life seem like work. The important things stand out in my head without a list to remind me, and the unimportant things ... well, they're unimportant. Who cares?

You're so right. If I dont remember it it was not worth doing anyway.I do keep a list of how much money my friends owe me after losing a whole lotta bucks. But other than that nothing at all.

I constantly drive my roommate-a compulsive listmaker- crazy with my attitude.
He once asked me what i would do if i forgot somethinf[God forbid!!]
I told him that id mostly not remember it anyway. it drove him nuts.I loved it.

[int]

My wife made lists and I'd intentionally come home with 2 items unchecked ... so she stopped giving me lists.

We've been much happier since.

[Clara]

Huh? int - do you mean: e.g. you didn't buy needed things at the hardware/ grocery store... or that you didn't use the list as a log of accomplishments?

garak, I feel the same way - I've ruined my enjoyment for some tasks that could have been somewhat fun, by putting them on a list - or, only having one "list."

[garak]

It makes sense, after all. Ps are good at focusing on the journey and Js are good at focusing on the destination. A todo list is a list of "destinations" nagging at you.

[jetboots]

my main point of my rant/rave was not the physical keeping or not of lists, but rather the novelty of the fact that it actually is possible to have everything done (wheather you keep it in your head or on paper) - When things to do are actaully all done, well, I think that would be cool and novel and I think I am striving for it for the novelty aspect rather than only doing the bare minimum that day or whatnot

[kuranes]

Personally, I am a list keeper.

I tend to find little random pieces of paper and have a list goin. When I run out of room, or I am feeling "new" I just start a new one that includes most of the old one.

The thing is I can not remeber a point in my life since I started making lists that I ever completed my list to the point that I was done EVERYTHING.

It would be soooo nice to have done all of the to do list! Somehow I always find present distractions; with a lot of things planning to do things is more rewarding than actually doing them somehow.

I wouldn't call this procrastinating so much as procrastinalizational optimizing, as I always get everything done somehow. I think its another case of trying to do the most things with the lease amount of effort.

This week I've realized that for the first time in a long time, I actually have a chance to "get ahead of myself" in the next 2 weeks or so. If it happens it will be crazy, like a whole new experience, I will be able to somehow breath better in a way. As much as I like having to do lists and planning it all out, it would be a novel experience to be simply

done.
Kuranes -
This is just like me, except that I can't honestly say that I eventually get everything done. I've NEVER "got out in front of the list" although I sometimes feel flush enough to just temporarily ignore most of it and be impulsive. This is my "drinker" personality and may explain part of the attraction to occasionally booze. ( Giving myself a break from the list and other "structures" that I created to be "helpers" originally, which have since morphed into "jailers". )

The "to do list" rag eventually gets buried under other papers, regardless. Like you said, then a new one is attempted. You may even have access to the old one while you prepare the new one, but sometimes you have to go on memory, as the old one is temporarily lost. I was extremely pleased, whilst going through a rare total re-org the other day, to encounter a very old "to-do" list. Most of the stuff on it had gotten done in the intervening years, so that I could have had the pleasure of just crossing stuff off it like a gangster mowing down a bunch of guys on the St. Valentines Day Massacre with a "chopper." I laughed to look at this ancient list, partly because one of the items on it was the long postponed "re-org". There were a few things that still "needed to be done" though, as per my old self's priorities. But some were things that I no longer thought were so important anymore, and I knew I'd changed/grown/creatively "shrunk" therefore, in the meantime. Sometimes i'll come across old phone numbers and be unable to remember what this person's significance was. Do any of you ever call the number anyway, and put the question to the answering party? Just for farts and giggles i've done that. Sometimes they don't remember who I am, or the number's no good anymore. Other times I re-ignite some forgotten piece of social kindling. More often if the person remembers me, and explains what we were talking about way back when, I will remember exactly why I let it slip into oblivion, and then awkwardly make my excuses/goodbyes.
K

[Miss Anthropic]

My wife made lists and I'd intentionally come home with 2 items unchecked ... so she stopped giving me lists.

We've been much happier since.
A little passive-aggressive action there? :rant: Your wife is smart!

[matthew0028]

Sometimes i'll come across old phone numbers and be unable to remember what this person's significance was. Do any of you ever call the number anyway, and put the question to the answering party?

My problem is that I'll come across old phone numbers and have no idea who they were supposed to belong to, and whether it was important that I had said number. Which is why I try to label the phone number I jot down, even if the number's only going to be relevant for 5 minutes, so I don't annoy myself in the future.

[MacGuffin]

Lists? Sounds like someone is flexing their J.

I used to have one of those Franklin Covey daily planners. You were supp. to make lists and prioritize them everyday.

It actually lasted longer than you'd think. I did it for like a year. Of course, my lists weren't very detailed and I'd forget to do them for a few days.

Now it is a glorified address book.

[Birdsnest]

I am a list person too. In fact, my filing cabinet (4 drawers, oak, tall), has entire folders of lists. One for "to do" for holidays, like iron table cloth, sweep porch three days ahead, etc. Another with every grocery item I would ever buy in case I forget what i need and have to go over the list. Another with every item I want to buy, another with pretty interior decorating ideas, survival lists, hurricane lists, what to pack lists, travel packing lists. Yes, I like to collect information in case I need it, but most is filed. I always have a perpetual box "to be filed". And, I make lists of things I really need to do on weekends when I'm likely to get sidetracked.

[Zero Angel]

List person here, except that I have a habit of losing those lists. It's more useful having a list then not having it. Its not like you have to commit to doing the tasks, so they are useful if you have nothing else to do.

[songbird36]

Ah - lists are a "J" penchant.

And being an INTJ I have one for everything (don't always stick to it though)!

[Birdsnest]

http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Routines.asp

Thought this link would give some of us "P"s a laugh. Just look at the typical bedtime routines this J website has for the masses.

[jetboots]

List person here, except that I have a habit of losing those lists. It's more useful having a list then not having it. Its not like you have to commit to doing the tasks, so they are useful if you have nothing else to do.

Thants exactly it for me too. I mean my lists are really random; wheather i think of some obscure thing to like update my passport or simply need to get my air cut, they both go on the list. Then like angel says, when you have some spare time to work on stuff you "have" to do, then it is a list is an optimizing tool; a list gives you the big picture of what you forced tasks you are currently supposed to do. Bam, just like that, it allows for no wasting time triying to remeber if you could check off one of those things when you are in a certain part of town.

Maybe it is a J trait, but I think that Ps (that have that J coming in?) lists are utilized differently than a Js (that have that P coming in?) in some subtle ways.

Just an opinion, as I have really no evidence or studies to back me up:P

[synchronous]

Maybe it is a J trait, but I think that Ps (that have that J coming in?) lists are utilized differently than a Js (that have that P coming in?) in some subtle ways.

Just an opinion, as I have really no evidence or studies to back me up:P

Well, I'd back you up on that. I think Ps use lists differently. Let's just say there would be an attempt to draw up a list and commit to taking action as best as possible. I make up lists all the time. I suppose the difference for me is the motivation factor. I'll look at my list and attempt to stroke off as many as items as I can. Along the way though, I start making up excuses why 'this or that' can wait. I'm an expert at justifying why I can procrastinate on an action, and carry it forward onto some other list of 'thing's to do'. After that, I can proubly proclaim I've accomplished all I need to do (until tomorrow....) lol.

[jetboots]

Well, I'd back you up on that. I think Ps use lists differently. Let's just say there would be an attempt to draw up a list and commit to taking action as best as possible. I make up lists all the time. I suppose the difference for me is the motivation factor. I'll look at my list and attempt to stroke off as many as items as I can. Along the way though, I start making up excuses why 'this or that' can wait. I'm an expert at justifying why I can procrastinate on an action, and carry it forward onto some other list of 'thing's to do'. After that, I can proubly proclaim I've accomplished all I need to do (until tomorrow....) lol.

I too am a master procrastinator. However, I think when we are this good and optimal, it deserves a different name that doesnt have bad connotations. I mean procrastinating can be really really good sometimes when put in the right places and times. Any ideas anyone? how bout pro-procrastinator?

( I HATE when people choose to finish something because they really want to but dont have to, they just have a habit of never procrasting anything. It makes them more stressed out. Geesh, relax and chillax meeeen!)