A List About Making Lists

Image from WSJ

By Lisa Robertson

This time of year, my lists overwhelm me.

I have at least 6-10 active lists. Several lists for a February wedding, a list for Christmas
cards, a lift for the gifts we gave, a list from the children on what they hoped to receive,
another list  to help me remember  things I fear I might forget, a simple grocery
list, a to-do list, thank you note lists, a list for new year’s resolutions, and one for the blessings and answers to prayers I saw in 2011. There are so many lists and so little time.

Yesterday, I read an article by Sue Shellenbarger from the Wall Street Journal about the art
of making an effective TO-DO List. Here are the highlights:

1. Limit list to concrete tasks — this list has what needs to be done, it has boundaries, a
beginning and an end.

2. Assign a priority to each task—ask yourself, “Is this urgent for my life today?” How
urgent? How helpful to others or myself? How important to the success of this day?

3. Plan a time and schedule for each task. This insight is new for me, and I have been doing
it without knowing that it would be on the WSJ to do list.  Each morning, I will block off my day with known commitments-meetings, lunches, walks, phone calls, desk work. I will assign the urgent commitments to an hour in the day.  This helps be me more realistic about what I can accomplish and they time I will need to get it done.  If I pray, “Give me this day my daily bread…”, it helps me to focus on this day and its needs.

4.Group tasks by where they will be performed — house, office, errands, etc.

5.LIST ONLY AS MANY ITEMS AS CAN BE REALISTICALLY ACCOMPLISHED. In other
words, don’t set yourself up to fail. Three days of “stuff” will not fit into three hours of
time.

6.Cross off or delete completed tasks — this is the best part.

7.Start a new list……..

Lists can be hand written-a new notebook and pen might motivate you,done on a computer or entered in a phone or I-Pad app.  For the first week of the new year, try making your lists.

One of the most important lists that I make at the end of the year is a reflection on God’s presence, answers to prayers, special Scriptures or insights. I combine this with another list which contains the deepest prayers of my heart. Some requests are specific-prayers for healing, wisdom, a plan for a graduating child, direction for me in the decisions that I will make.. Other requests are more general, the presidential election, Israel, our church and its leadership, Changing Seasons and Faithful Beginnings.

God has a plan for me for today and for next year. My goal is to ask Him for help so that I
can get to the best places that He has planned for me.

Jeremiah 29:11 sums this up—"I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring
you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you,
not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

Proverbs 16:9—We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.

Proverbs 21:5—Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts
you further behind.

Prov. 24:21—It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day.

Think about your lists, make a list or two and see how they might help you to be better
organized in 2012.

And the list goes on & on!