Poll Do You Make Lists?

[Mina]

I find that I make lists nearly every day: to-do lists, shopping lists, lists of things to discuss with my T, things to look into, etc. There is almost always a note in my pocket with at least a few items on it. My short term memory has greatly improved in the last year, since I started therapy...there was a time when I could not remember just one or two things I had to pick up at the store...but I still find making lists - even mundane ones - very comforting. (It's a must with groceries, by the way, although those are usually long lists and would be hard to remember.)

I also take a sense of satisfaction in crossing items off the list, even something as simple as, "Call Jessica," or, "Unload dishwasher." It is a representation of something I have accomplished. Rarely does everything get crossed off, but it helps to get the idea on paper nonetheless; once it is written down, I don't worry about forgetting it, obsess over it, or keep reminding myself about it. It takes some pressure off of me at that moment. Whether I ultimately get it done or not doesn't always matter.

Do you make lists? How do they help or hinder you?

 

[cragger65]

I find the same thing for myself. Crossing things off as done, dealt with, makes me feel like i've done something, even if it were a small thing. Also, i tend to drift a lot, forget things, and avoid getting started on things, so making the list is a must for me.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Yes, lots of lists. Except for one small problem, I AM ALWAYS LOOSING THEM!

I find old lists in all kinds of strange places when cleaning.

But, all in all, I do the list thing and enjoy crossing off the things as I see I have actually accomplish something.

Maybe that is the reason for the lists. We are finally able to "SEE" progress

 

[Freddy_hiding_less]

My answer is sometimes, sometimes they are helpful to get structure, break things in smaller pieces with little mile stones to enjoy. Other times I write them and then cheat, make them more detailed cheat again until it get's ridicules.

 

[Marlene]

If I didn't make lists, I wouldn't remember what I need to do. Since my Swiss-cheese brain has gotten worse, my list making has gotten better.

 

[skyp56]

OMG! Do I ever make lists!! LOL!

I have been a "List Maker" for many years. Keeping track of the various lists got to be extremely daunting in itself. I finally had to get myself a binder with lists sorted by subject, like "Things To Remember" (for when someone told me a good joke, or I found a recipe for a cleaning product, or that email that floats around every so often about all the uses for hydrogen peroxide, etc), or lists of "Important Dates" (like 1st through 4 marriages, and first 3 divorces), the deaths of my father and step dad and what they died of, and when my grandson goes on field trips at school.

Then there's the list of my medical conditions, what meds I've tried, and what drs I've seen, that I have to keep up for SSDI.

And, of course, the Ever Present "To Do" lists. Had to eventually break down the "To Do" list into "To Do Today", "To Do Next Week", To Do By Christmas", etc, etc. I'm like others on this poll, crossing off even simple things gives me a sense of satisfaction.

So, yes, I do lists; been told by some that I'm too obsessed. My therapist says my list-making is one way I developed, at a young age, to cope with the chaos, since I couldn't control when my father was gonna get angry and beat me.

Thanks for this poll, it is great!!!

Bless you all!
Skyp56

 

[starshine]

Sometimes.
Shopping, and for things to raise with my GP. Occasionally I'll list down tasks to do at work if there's a lot to do or if I'm having a bad concentration/memory day.

I don't work so well with 'to do' lists because they usually just end up making me feel bad.

 

[kers]

Constantly. I couldn't remember anything without them. Well, I could remember to wake up and get dressed in the morning, but that's about it.

I have three separate lists going right now. One is short term (what I have to do today), one is longer term (this week and next week, like paying bills and going shopping) and one is big projects I have to accomplish, like get a light fixture replaced. I wouldn't get anything done on time without these to help me compensate for my memory issues.

 

[pandora]

I have to write everything down and then mark it off as it gets completed. I am caught up on my paperwork other than a letter I have to write for my lawyer about my ex to have my support increased....it gives me a lot of anxiety..I am giving myself until this friday to complete this!!!

 

[Deleted member 541]

I have a huge calendar that I have to write everything down on, otherwise I forget. I have list for most everything I need to do, when i am away from the calendar....

 

[goingonhope]

Countless times I've created lists whether pertaining to To Do Lists or Medical or Home or Children's School and/or events. Ect. Ect. Ect. These lists though well intended and perhaps useful if I could remember that I've created such lists would prove I imagine somewhat helpful. But sometimes the frustration of having spent precious time creating them and then having them placed elsewhere, buried beneath piles of paperwork, and me at times misplacing them has proved to only cause me to feel terribly frustrated and angry. And, for sometime now anyways, I cannot for the life of me remember that I even created such lists. It's not a MH issue either, it's simply responsibilities coming at me faster then I can keep up with it.

My husband bought me an expensive daily planner and between not having the time to fill it in, and me knowing in advance it will either be misplaced for me, or I'll lose it, or forget I even have it, I haven't yet been able to make much use of it.

Sometime in the last two week I pulled out a huge wall size calender and already it feels obselete as it's not left where I put it. I own an enormous roll of meat wrapping paper that I once cut from the top to the bottom of our wall that everything then could be written there and checked off, but I got a big fat No that it couldn't go into our bedroom and quite frankly there isn't another place in the home it could go without it all becoming public information, as numerous people enter our house and none of it is there business, most understandably so.

The best thing I've found so far which is working better for me then keeping it all stored up in my head, or trying to create lists is, when given just a bit of time, I make good use of specific Powerpoint presentations which are remembered and available to me in seconds. I can share them with my husband when the work-load includes things he must participate in.

As for bills, I remember and meals I remember with no problems. As for grocery lists, my husband is in charge of this, me I'll just go into the store and dump in the carriage anything practical that I know we need and or that will provide meals. To time restricted to create lists of ingrediants for recipes I'd like to introduce into our family. Though this I'm looking forward to, all in time. As for knowing how to cook anything special, that I just never learned. Steak, potatoes and vegt. fine. Other very common things fine, but even meatloaf, I don't know the ingredients that go into it or whether or not we already have them. Thank heavens I buy food, my husband generally cooks and he'll be the one to introduce new meals into our family as I just don't have the time given so much more.

Got a bit off track here.

 

[goingonhope]

Just realized as I was about to vote that seldomly if ever do I make paper lists, but that Yes I include in my Powerpoint presentations A list, but also include so much more of pertinent phone #'s, dates and info. that I need at my fingertips, but also records of anything which I need to make reference to including the homework assingments coming at us weekly from our son's T and now also my husband's and my parenting T. Plus same gal for family T.

Sometimes just that work would require a composition book to list and know how to follow thru with all the leads she's been given us.

Oh' so I voted sometimes.