Comments on: sunday life: perfect lists

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:07:56 +0000

Thanks Jo, I always enjoy your considered feedback!!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:05:33 +0000

Yeah , there’s this thing called the Dunbar number, that says the maximum number of people we can handle knowing is about 130 or so…which is kind of too many to list. Your lists seem more of an exercise in gratitude. I wrote a column about that, too, once.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:03:52 +0000

Here you on the moleskin thing! and the nice pen thing!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:03:16 +0000

Hey Christen, yeah, I’ve tried things…but there’s something about old-school techniques that work better for me. I think better with pen and paper and scribbling. Before I write my SL column, I plan the story on paper, in diagram mode. I’m such a child of the 80s!

By: Christen

Christen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:51:41 +0000

Hi Sarah, I’ve been a diehard list maker from the time I learnt to write and yes I’ve also read David Allen’s GTD. Quite often I start the day with good intentions – a list filled with promise, but then my fanciful ‘mood’ steers me in a different direction.

Recently I discovered a program called ‘Things’ for mac computers. It’s not free but I’d be lost without it now. It lists the day’s ‘to-do’s’ and keeps track of multiple projects as well as ‘someday’ ideas in a really simple format. It doesn’t take long to master and it’s the best system I’ve ever found to manage multiple tasks – better than my diary, PDA, post-its. Check it out!

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:57:08 +0000

I am addicted to lists. Not just “to do” lists, but lists in general. And they have to be handwritten, in one of my pink moleskin notebooks (purchased from Borders), with one of those lovely thin yellow pens with the blue lids and ink.

I look forward to reading your column every week

P.S. J’adore Teux Deux!

By: jo-living savvy

jo-living savvy — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:00:17 +0000

It is not so much my to do list that I brings me pleasure but as an action focused girl the deep pleasure and satisfaction I get from crossing something off in acknowledgement of completion. I will in fact write something little down only to receive the hit of pleasure that crossing off brings (yes I am addicted to my list).
My list is a piece of paper folded in 4 that I runs over the week. That means on Monday I can put something down for Thursday and forget about it until then. It is the forgetting that is an issue for me…if it is not on my list then forget it will probably not get done!
I too have played with the idea of getting a pda but my list is scratchy and messy and can be added to quickly….my list is organic and grows and I feel that taking away the pen and the paper will lessen the experience for me.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:39:43 +0000

Loved the article on lists. I’m a list person and always have been. You concentrated on ‘to do’ lists. I once read somewhere that some research had been done in the UK that indicated that the happiest (or something) people have at least 18 close friends or supports. I therefore created a list on my Palm called ’18 supports’. After much deep reflection and trolling through my address book I managed to list 11 and that includes the dog. I am pretty sure that if some of those on my list had a similar list I would not be on it- but what the hell- I need everyone I can get.

And then I have a list called ‘All gone’. This is somewhat more sober in that at my age I know more people who have died than I have supports. So I have listed them on this list. When I have mentioned the list to friends they seem to consider it a bit odd, but my way of thinking is that by having the list and having a look at it occassionally (or adding to it), it is quite a nice way to remember old friends and people who have had a positive impact on ones life. It incidentally has 29 on it. So what does that say?….

Anyway, thanks for your great articles.