I Lost My List

Yup, that’s right. Somewhere between checking out at one grocery store and parking at the next one, I lost my grocery list. Now this might not be a big deal to some of you out there, but it’s a very big deal to me.

I kept a pad and pen stuck to the refrigerator and my husband and I both put things on the grocery list as we run out of them. Without the list it’s chaos as I try to remember what we might need. It’s also expensive because I’ll buy things, not knowing if I actually need them or not.

But it got me thinking . . . I used to have a lot of success following lists. And I daresay I was more productive when I kept daily “to-do” lists, things I wanted to accomplish during the day.

Lists help us remember things we might otherwise forget, like groceries. Memory needs structure, a connection, but a list can be utterly random. We can add or subtract from a list. Who doesn’t love the rush of crossing things off your list? They can give you satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

The act of creating a list can also trigger ideas for other things. Say you make a list of things you want to remember to include in a story, one of those things might get you thinking in another direction, which could lead to a whole new story.

Lists are concise and orderly. They can convey a lot of information in just a few words. They’re small and to the point, and can make a task seem not quite so formidable. And a pro and con list can be a great help in decision making.

To help break bad habits, try making a “Not-to-Do” list. Do not spend so much time playing games. Do not eat keep eating after you’re full. Do not spend so much money on things you don’t need on Amazon.

A list can save you time by laying out what you need to do so you can prioritize the parts of a task. A grocery list can save you money by letting you know exactly what you need so you’re not wandering around the store, like me, buying random items.

I get distracted easily, and I’m weak when it comes to wasting time on things like binge reading. After careful consideration, I think I’m going to try doing a daily to-do list, just jotting down things I’d like to accomplish, one day at a time.

In the meantime, as far as grocery shopping goes, I’m going to start taking a picture of my list before I shop.