This post is part of the January blog-a-day challenge that I’m doing. I’m so utterly behind. 😦 Anyway, I told you in my post, “Well, Would You Look at That: One Lovely Blog Nomination” that I was going to make a list of the reasons why I love lists. Well, here it is.
1. They help me to organize my jumbled thoughts because lists force me to compact those thoughts into something that I can easily write down.
2. They make my tasks seem more manageable because, by being forced to write my agenda down on a list, I go from having “a billion things to do” to “25 things to do.” Yes, I have had lists that went to 25. If I remember correctly, my longest “To Do” list (for the week) was about 40-something items long.
3. It feels so good to check one of the items off of a list.
4. Even though I sometimes don’t get everything accomplished, I can look at how many things that I have gotten done. This helps me to focus on the positive side of the situation.
5. Other than editing marks and lists, I usually type everything that I write. Therefore, these handwritten lists allow me to use my pretty colored pens that I rarely use.
6. They are perfect for writing down medications and allergies for doctors. With this kind of list, you can simply hand the nurse or doctor your list and you don’t have to guess at dosages and reactions. Believe me, it’s a lifesaver (particularly in an emergency room situation).
7. They help me not to forget things. Well, unless I lose the list. Then I have to make another list that reminds me to find the other list. It’s list inception—listception! :O
8. I’m usually able to write lists that are clear enough that others can decipher them, which can be quite useful.
9. They are oftentimes quick to make.
10. You need them to do scavenger hunts, and who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt?
What can I say? Lists rock. How do you write your lists?
At the Foot of the Sierras 
I had to laugh about the colored pens. I am SO the same way. When I was editing the manuscript I during NaNoWriMo in 2013 I had a whole system of what color notes was about who. Really, they were quite useful! Not a list maker, though. I’m too single minded and focused. A list scares me.
Ah, a fellow pen enthusiast! Give me a purple pen, and I shall conquer the world . . . okay, maybe just my research papers. But still! Long lists can be scary, but I feel like they help take an overwhelming amount of things to do and make them into something more manageable.
I’m a green person myself…
I use social media lists to organize who I follow. For example, you are on my Liked/Commented list that I go through daily to see how I can reciprocate.
That’s a great idea. Sometimes social media can get a bit overwhelming, so a list is a perfect way to break it down. I’m glad that I’m on the Liked/Commented list. 🙂 Thank you!