I’ve always been a planner and a list maker.  As a child would start preparing my school supplies soon after the Fourth of July even though the first day of class would not be until after Labor Day.  Now well into adulthood, I plan out my upcoming week every Friday afternoon listing out tasks to be done.  I am always on the look out for the perfect calendar, agenda, or planner.   I cannot be trusted in an office supply store on my own even if I have a carefully crafted shopping list in hand; it’s worse than setting me lose in Target without a plan.

I make lists for everything.  They are color-coded.  I even have sub-lists.  In fact, I’m pretty sure I was the inspiration for the Go-Go’s song Girl of 100 Lists.  Lists keep me focused and  help me define my task.  It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with a ridicuosly long to-do list, which is why I like to keep several smaller task lists going at any given time.  Checking off completed items makes me happy and keeps focused on the big picture.

Lifeplanning has become for me a personal and professional mission.  I like to create checklists for others to use and when  I come up with a good list, I share it here.