Would you be lost without your to-do list or day planner?

United States
August 14, 2007 9:22pm CST
Ordinarily, I can live my day without a convoluted day planner. But, that doesn't mean I can get a lot done in a days time. Most times the only thing I get done are average Mommy duties and the occasional post online. On those days when I happen to cement a few ideas on paper or commit a few words to my text pad version of a to-do list, I can actually get things accomplished. I don't know what it is about a to-do list that helps motivate me to get on with life. Maybe it's the guilty feeling I get whenever I walk past my list on the way to yet one more distraction. Or, perhaps the sure and certain knowledge that I'm not actually making money by goofing off! So, I guess you could say that I can't live without my to-do list. But, most days I do live with it! So how about you? Can you live without your to-do list? Do you find that you're more productive if you have a list of things to do? Or, do you get along just fine without one?
1 person likes this
17 responses
• United States
15 Aug 07
Yes, when I am working and going to school, that thing is my survival guide. I need my planner in order to get me through my day.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 07
I am the same way with my list of topics for My Lot and my basic to do list for business. If it is missing, I am likely to get lost on the Internet and end up asking for directions! LOL!
@cikedo (3483)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I don't plan most of my days. If there is something important that needs doing I will rarely forget about it.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I am way more productive when I have a to-do list- Especially at work- I do one at the beginning of each week- and I feel great pride and less stress every time I mark (scribble) something off- It’s great! I have started this at home too- It’s great-
• United States
15 Aug 07
I'm usually pretty good without lists, but sometimes, when I have a lot of things going on at once, I need a list to keep myself on track. I usually make lists before school starts, or before I'm leaving to go home for the summer from school. I just have so much to do with finals and packing that a list is needed so I don't happen to forget to do something.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Aug 07
I am more productive when I have a to do list. I may not follow it exactly but at lesat I have listed down the things that need to get done then I pick and choose the quickest and easiest first then attend to the more difficult ones after I have completed the easier tasks on my list. I use a calender and mark everything on there. I also have one online via gmail which my husband and I link together on and post up our bills and important things that are due. We both can update it and see the changes anytime.
• United States
15 Aug 07
yeah I can live without it I just basicly do what I want when I want
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
15 Aug 07
I would forget half of the things I have to do, including meetings with people, if I didn't keep my planner on me. I write lists of things to do, and the act of writing them helps me to remember what I need to do.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I am a 100% more productive when I write down what I need to accomplish. I also find when I put a time frame for each project it helps me accomplish more.
• India
15 Aug 07
i was good when a was below 18, now due to colleges and all that stuff, i ought to keep a to do list as brain remains never empty of college assignments
@DJ9020 (1596)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I have one of those little slim ones that the kids sell for fundraisers. I like to refer to it as 'my brain'. If I lose it, I start asking if anyone has seen my brain!
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
15 Aug 07
planner - A daily planner for tasks, to-do lists, and important dates.
Yes, I am dependent on my daily planner. I've got so many tasks, doing favors for so many people, bills to pay, and important dates to remember. Without the planner I would forget some of them.
@jolenegreen (1209)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I do usually make a To do list. Usually most of it dont get done. LOL. It seems like we just dont have enough hours in the day, I have sooo much to do and that dont include the times my children want to play or I want to read to them. I wish the days were longer!
@jen_n514 (218)
• Philippines
15 Aug 07
i dont ever write a to-do-list..i can manage without it - all my life never had one...even going to the groceries i dont usually write down what i need to buy...it's all in my head..LOL keep smiling...:D
@mpintshi (64)
• Zimbabwe
15 Aug 07
Coming from a third world country, I just get my things done without the so called pager/pad version of a to-do-list. It is a luxury that even my boss cannot indulge in. We just get our things done.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Generally, I don't have a to-do list. I do have a planner, but the only things I put in it are appointments, and deadlines. Everything else, I just try to keep track of in my mind. I feel overwhelmed when I have a bunch of stuff on a list, and I'm not sure if I can get it done. It actually hurts me more than it helps me. I do have to check out my planner every night, though, so I can set the alarm if we have an early appointment or if we have a playdate or whatever. I also sometimes have to reschedule playdates if I know that I'm going to have a hard time meeting a deadline. I try to do that at least a couple of days in advance, though. And I try to not schedule them close to a deadline anyway. Sometimes I am TERRIBLE under pressure.
@lyndee22 (1210)
• Philippines
15 Aug 07
I can go on a day without my to-do list. It's already a routine activity to me performing all my office works and household duties. I only make a list if there are rush things to be done.
• India
15 Aug 07
To have a to-do list definitely improves time management for me. But the problem with me is I often keep changing my to do list. I used to list them out on paper before but now I think about it in the morning and before sleep and remember it fairly well. The list certainly has some kind of motivation which does not keep the brain idle. It definitely goes a long way to build up a systematic way of life.