Four Fun Facts About Women’s To Do Lists

1. Most women (83%) still prefer the tactile experience of writing their lists with pen and paper.  The pleasure of crossing things off cannot be underestimated.  People often feel more accountable when a list is in their own handwriting.
2. Of women surveyed, 50% admitted to writing down tasks they have already done, then they can happily cross them off.  That way they can have a more complete picture of everything they’ve done, plus another opportunity to cross something off.
3. More people cross off tasks (66%), than check off (21%)    4% write an “x” and 5% do nothing at all.
4. 96% say their lives are better with to do lists.  89% say they enjoy making lists.  28% identify themselves as obsessive list makers.

I admit that I do make a lot of lists and part of that has to do with my memory.  I feel that it isn’t as good as it once was and the peace of mind of writing things down is good for me.

I even have a pad and paper by my bed.  If I have a night where I can’t sleep and things are rolling around in my brain, I have been known to (in the dark) write things down on the list so that I can stop worrying that I’m going to forget them.

No conversation of to-do lists would be complete without the mention of a “don’t do list”.  It can be a good exercise to think (and write) about things that you don’t want to do. 

If you don’t want to be out of the house every night, then don’t say yes to too many committees.

If meal planning is one of your least favourite things, and you don’t want to be the only one in the family responsible for it, then schedule a family meeting and brainstorm ways that everyone can be involved in the process.

If you don’t want to be buried in mountains of laundry, then figure out a way to streamline your process and how to get your family on board.

While some of this may seem obvious, sometimes we get so bogged down that we forget that we don’t have to do things the way we always have done them.

I remember our friend and colleague Lois Raats from Ready 2 Grow Associates gave Rhonda and I a goal setting exercise to do one time.  The basic premise of it was to make a list of what you don’t want and it was amazing how easy it really was to come up with the flip side (what you do want) and from there we could brainstorm how to make these goals happen.

Whether or not you consider yourself a list person,  making a “don’t do list” might be a great exercise to help you streamline and simplify your life!

If getting organized is on your “To Do List” check out our packages and learn more about how we can help.  We offer an interest free payment plan and we are ready to get to work!  Allow us to be your success partners as you get to the Heart of the Matter!