[Jerick]

How do you organize your to-do list, or work schedule?

[NiDBiLD]

It's automatic, and it's in my head. Usually I only notice my planning when something deviates from it.

If I have something drudgingly boring that I really need to do, I put "eating" after it on my day plan - I go hungry until I finish what I'm supposed to do. This is a great tactic for getting stuff done.

[Dear Sigmund]

I dont have lists. I have it in my head. I base things on time priorities. The has to be done now, versus it can wait. I also do some research in possible problems that may come up and develop a strategy.

[WickedQueen]

I make mental list of things to do. And then I categorize it into 4 priorities:

1. Urgent and Important,
2. Urgent and Not-Important,
3. Not-Urgent and Important, and
4. Not-Urgent and Not-Important.

[Slkmcphee]

I usually don't need lists because I use routines (which are basically well-established lists).
Right now I am planning for a cross-country move, so lists are pretty much essential.
Few things in life compare with the satisfaction of crossing things off of lists.

[7wonders]

I have to confess that I really have a deep love of lists...check lists, to-do lists, shopping lists. I feel like writing these things down frees up space in my mind...usually to think up another thing to do that needs a list!

Typically I have a list of priorities at work that I keep running so I don't forget about something. Then I have a grocery list (of course) and I keep that in Excel so I can sort it by category before I go shopping. I also keep a Honey-Do list on the fridge for my ESFP mate...we are remodeling a house and it helps keep him on task to have a list but he likes to have a few things on the list so he gets to pick what to do. (Hehe, that sounds so terrible! But it works for us). And then I have a menu list on the side of the fridge that I use to shop and prep meals but I try to not be too rigid and let the kids pick what we have when.

Any type of family activity gets a list...for instance over the 4th of July we are going up to the Hills for four days. I have a checklist for each family member of what personal items the need to bring. Once you have been handed the list, the responsibility moves to you to get it all in the bag. I also have a check list of food items to bring, beach & picnic stuff to load up (I keep most of it in labeled totes in the garage so I can just grab the tote labeled "3 sleeping bags" or "beach toys & air pump" and throw it in the truck). I also plan a menu for the trip and have a checklist of those specific items. I also tend to create another list (if we are all going for a trip) that has phases of when to prepare what. Like week one: buy watershoes for everyone, check and clean beach toys, remind T to ask for time off from work. Week two: shop for non perishable food items, ask Matt to water the garden, wash sleeping bags. Week one (this is where the work comes in) I will break this one down by day and list each item I can fully pack and any food prep that needs to be done before hand (like boil potatoes on Monday night, prepare the salad on Tuesday night, etc). We will all be packed and ready to go a minimum of three days in advance.

...I can't figure out if I love having the lists because it makes it easier for me to mobilize a large family OR if I love the large family because it give me an exuse to mobilize my own little army!

[Dear Sigmund]

I have to confess that I really have a deep love of lists...check lists, to-do lists, shopping lists. I feel like writing these things down frees up space in my mind...usually to think up another thing to do that needs a list!

Typically I have a list of priorities at work that I keep running so I don't forget about something. Then I have a grocery list (of course) and I keep that in Excel so I can sort it by category before I go shopping. I also keep a Honey-Do list on the fridge for my ESFP mate...we are remodeling a house and it helps keep him on task to have a list but he likes to have a few things on the list so he gets to pick what to do. (Hehe, that sounds so terrible! But it works for us). And then I have a menu list on the side of the fridge that I use to shop and prep meals but I try to not be too rigid and let the kids pick what we have when.

Any type of family activity gets a list...for instance over the 4th of July we are going up to the Hills for four days. I have a checklist for each family member of what personal items the need to bring. Once you have been handed the list, the responsibility moves to you to get it all in the bag. I also have a check list of food items to bring, beach & picnic stuff to load up (I keep most of it in labeled totes in the garage so I can just grab the tote labeled "3 sleeping bags" or "beach toys & air pump" and throw it in the truck). I also plan a menu for the trip and have a checklist of those specific items. I also tend to create another list (if we are all going for a trip) that has phases of when to prepare what. Like week one: buy watershoes for everyone, check and clean beach toys, remind T to ask for time off from work. Week two: shop for non perishable food items, ask Matt to water the garden, wash sleeping bags. Week one (this is where the work comes in) I will break this one down by day and list each item I can fully pack and any food prep that needs to be done before hand (like boil potatoes on Monday night, prepare the salad on Tuesday night, etc). We will all be packed and ready to go a minimum of three days in advance.

...I can't figure out if I love having the lists because it makes it easier for me to mobilize a large family OR if I love the large family because it give me an exuse to mobilize my own little army!

7wonders, your name should be Wonderwoman. This is impressive.( takes a peice of paper and writes down some notes)

[dude10000]

How do you organize your to-do list, or work schedule?

Estimate the time involved for the task (or the subtasks, and sum up), add extra time for a buffer, and then set deadlines.

I'm actually giving the career in software design another look, though that's about 500hr worth of work from where I am now. Time to make friends with the quicksort and the linked list!

Other than that I'm not a big fan of details-- I'd rather go off-road and sniff out the right way to go. Though I do sketch out the possibilities in advance, so I have a menu of options, or scenarios to anticipate, etc.

[psychomonkie]

I usually plot things out in my head because it helps me to adapt new variables as I go. If I do make lists or routines I follow them very well until one thing forces me out of it, then I have difficulty getting back into the routine unless I start from scratch.

[Vanitas]

My everyday scheduling is classified into 'today', 'this week', 'this month' and longer timespan as needed. I also keep a non time-constrained list of the progress I'm making (like which chapter of which book I'm reading, how far done is a long-term project).

I cull them periodically, usually at mornings.