by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that I’m a huge fan of lists. Here is a smattering of the list posts I’ve written: Lists and Layers, Tips for Better To-Do Lists, and Using Lists to Write.
I use lists in a variety of ways to get my drafting, editing, and brainstorming done. They also help me fit writing into small spaces of time on extremely busy days.
But sometimes, looking at a list can be overwhelming. And, to me, that’s just a bad list. Lists are meant to not only provide a plan for working through tasks, they’re also supposed to be motivating. If looking at your list is making you want to procrastinate, that’s a sign your list needs some revision.
Instead of writing “work on my book,” for instance, break the task down like this:
Open my document
Spend five minutes orienting myself to where I am in the story
Spend five minutes listing bullet points for the direction of the next scene
Write for seven minutes
How is this more motivating? It gives you bite-sized tasks that you can quickly cross off your to-do list. If you have a particularly full day, you can knock things off the list at different points in your day while still making progress on your list.
Do you have a lot on your to-do list? How do you stay motivated when facing a big task?
A Tip for Making a List More Manageable: Share on X
In seventeen minutes, I can knock four things off my list – I like it!
It’s a great feeling!
I put every little thing on my daily list so I can cross it off. If I forget to add something and then do it, I'll write it on the list and cross it off immediately. LOL
It’s the best way to see how productive we’re being!
I'm not a natural list maker – although I'm surrounded by list-makers!
The only 2 lists I use are my Uploading Tasks list and my General To Do list.
I use the first every time I have a new release so I don't forget anything.
The second I use when I'm feeling overwhelmed. It helps to put down all the things and then subdivide them into smaller tasks.
Two lists sounds like all you need! When you’ve got a great system, stick with it! :)
I think one of the great things about lists and about a routine like yours is that those things break down the task of writing into pieces that are a lot less daunting. At the same time, you're getting things done. You are making progress.
Just doing tasks a little bit at a time really can help!
What I've found is that if I put something down on a list, it gets done. There's something of a commitment in writing an item on a piece of paper.
That’s so true! Seeing it on paper makes me take care of it.
I also love lists. I love the idea of breaking them down into smaller tasks. Part of my procrastination is that overwhelming feeling from such big things on my lists!
Breaking tasks down helps prevent that overwhelmed feeling, for sure!