The act of writing a list helps me to remember what I need to do. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

I lost my “To Do” list the other day. For some reason I decided to type my list on the computer but I had not saved it. I was rushing to my volleyball match and somehow lost the list. That never happens when I write my list on paper.

One other time I wrote my list on the computer. I discovered that I do not gain the same satisfaction deleting items from the list as I do when I physically cross the item off my list.

For me, the mere act of writing the list helps me to remember what I need to do and, more importantly, to prioritize the items. Turns out that writing things down, with your actual hands, is just plain better at getting you to remember and execute good ideas, according to an article in Fast Company magazine

I have even gone so far as to buy “special” notebooks for making lists. I started using small notebooks for lists when a colleague pointed out that I had 3 sheets of paper, all with different lists. Why, he asked, didn’t I put them in a notebook so I could keep better track of the lists. Ever since, I’ve carried a small notebook, which often doubles for taking notes at informal meetings.

One of my favorite notebooks only allows me to list two items and has pithy comments, such as “Today’s about quality not quantity” and “Today I will get some stuff done”. For me, only listing two items is nothing short of a miracle. Yet when I do this I can happily report that I always complete the assignments.

And after all, isn’t that the point of a list?

Earlier in the week, a robin repeatedly flew at my office window. Bang. I’d turn around to look and he would be stunned on the ground but otherwise okay. Several minutes later, “bang”! Finally, after a few hours of this, the robin grew wise and realized he was not getting into my office. He flew away and, I hope is doing well wherever he landed.

This robin reminded me that if I want different results I can't keep doing the same things that I've done in the past. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

Many days I feel like that robin. Watching and listening to the robin, I realized that sometimes I do exactly what Albert Einstein warned against: “Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.”

Upon this epiphany I picked up the phone and spoke with my business coach. We discussed several items, and helped get me back on track. I knew what I needed to do; I simply needed to talk it out loud. So if you don’t have a coach, find a friend or colleague and talk it through.

Rather than banging my head into a wall like a robin, I’ve recommitted to do the following:

1. Follow 18 Minutes, a great time management tool.
2. Bring healthy snacks to work. Eating junk food does nothing for my concentration so if I have an apple or carrots handy, I’m better able to fuel myself. Plus, the “crunch” just sounds good.
3. Set aside specific time to work on emails. I’m not alone in finding an inbox that remains perpetually filled. Many emails I can glance at and quickly delete. Others require more thoughtful responses. Identifying time each day to answer emails or forward them prevents them from going into a black hole.
4. Schedule time for friends, family and fitness. By adding it to my calendar, I have something to look forward to and I create appropriate work/life balance.

Once I stopped hitting my head into my virtual wall, I quickly discovered how much more energized and engaged I became. The robin was a good reminder. I just hope he didn’t end up with a headache while trying to get me to pay attention!