What Does Your List Say About You?

What type of list-maker are you? Are your days led by the ‘all-knowing’ to-do list? In this episode of Community Creatives, Jacqui discusses different kinds of lists and how they may speak to people with a variety of organisational styles and personality types. Jacqui dives into different avenues that support her such as ‘sketch note-taking’, breaking down priorities and goals, and having both digital and hard copy options. Are you a list-maker? This is the episode for you!

Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music

License code: U6EWJCDDX8XNCHJ7

Transcript

Intro to CMM Podcast Channel text:

“Calling all creatives, advocates and friends… Welcome to the next chapter of this ever-growing content journey. This is your space. These stories are for you. This is Community Matters Media.”

Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music

License code: U6EWJCDDX8XNCHJ7

Episode Transcript:

What Does Your List Say About You?   

Hello, hello. Welcome to another episode of Community Creatives.This is Jacqui joining you on another Wednesday.Today, I want to talk to you about something a little bit softer, but nevertheless something that is always on my mind.What does your list have to say about you?

Now, anybody that knows me, knows I am a compulsive list maker. I love my lists and I have different lists for everything and every day I have a handful of lists.They could be short-term, long-term, looking to my goals, looking to future things I may want to do, things that perhaps I'm considering doing; and then just a few options.

Does it sound familiar to anybody? So yeah, that's me. And that's what my lists say about me. I feel like I have so many things in my head at any given time, and I have so many things that I want to do with my time that the sheer prospect of all of the things, can be a bit overwhelming and daunting. And I feel like if I'm not adequately capturing it, it's almost like it's not there at all.

So, coming back down to my daily list. My daily list will have far too many things. Again, anyone feeling personally victimised? I know that it is unrealistic to expect myself to achieve all of the things on my list. And I know how frustrated I feel, when I have to roll it onto the next day and I just don't feel like I'm achieving anything because I set unrealistic expectations and standards for myself. Can anyone relate?

Sometimes I feel like just doing the mundane things aren't enough. And I don't allow myself time. And I don't allow myself compassion to rest. And to feel like I've earned that rest. And to allow myself to stop.

I go through periods where I smash out so much, and then it becomes too much, and it all just snowballs when I feel like I'm not achieving what I want to achieve, and I'm not doing the things that I want to do effectively with my time.

One thing that's really supported me through this, is ‘time blocking’ effectively, and really trying to focus on what is realistic, and what are the necessary steps that I will have to take to actually achieve that goal? And they have to be points on my list. They have to be included.

So even if that is: 1.(a), (b), (c) - it's all connected. Maybe you wanna draw a little bit, do a mental mind map, something a bit fun and quirky. One of my recent list taking favourites has been a giant post it note. Yeah, it's huge, people. I can draw on it so I can engage in ‘sketch note-taking’.Which makes it more fun and visually stimulating for the eyes. And more palatable. 

Now I know that everybody is different in how they balance their time and how they organise their ‘to do’ lists and their priorities. And you really do have to find something that works for you. Maybe you use something digital? Maybe you need something hard copy to write down. Embrace whatever works. Focus on what is achievable in the time that you have, and be real about your time that you actually have to achieve it, but also your capacity. Be honest about that with yourself. Your future self will thank you when you've got things done. But you haven't had to achieve all of the things.Take it slow. One thing at a time, one day at a time. Go forth into the world and create the list that speaks to you.

All my love, Jacqui

Outro to CMM Podcast Channel text:

“This was an original Community Matters Media Production. Thank you for connecting with us. Please continue to follow us as part of our connected, authentic community where you show up just as you are.”

Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music

License code: U6EWJCDDX8XNCHJ7