I am many things, but for the purposes of this post the important thing to know is that I collect notebooks and I am a compulsive maker of lists. The first is probably just a side effect of writing for The Desk. I’m always up to try a new paper or notebook format. And, while I have plenty I don’t want to use going forward, those emotional support notebooks do stack up.
As far as making lists, that has been going on forever. I’m someone who suffers from a lot of anxiety. I think making lists solves two problems for me. One: it allows me to have some control over the things I do, writing them down and prioritizing them. Two: it allows my to quiet my brain, knowing that the things I am trying to remember, or worrying about, are down on paper where they won’t be forgotten.
I have lists for EVERYTHING. Work tasks, projects (Knitting, Quilting, Spinning), reviews for the Desk, things I’m going to take on vacation, gifts for people in my life. You name it, I have a list for it.
Several months ago, Ana added the Mark’s EDiT notebooks to the shop. I was interested and I’m not going to lie, I really liked the A5 with the plastic cover. The grid inside isn’t my fave (that’s dot grid!) but it’s not obtrusive enough to bother me. This, I decided, this was a book for lists. And so I started writing. I’m giving myself permission for this to be a mishmash (like the inside of my brain) and a place where I store all those things I want to remember to do, and read, and make, and more.
Are you a list maker?
I have been making lists since I was young. For over 50 years I’ve written lists and saved some to remind myself how much I was able to accomplish.
I’m a serious list maker! I got it from my mother and just got my son into lists. It greatly reduces my anxiety, and I accomplish a lot more when I write it all down.
I don’t think I could function without lists. I make lists every day, from books I want to read, groceries I need to buy, meals I’ve planned, tasks to remember to do, and so much more. I have packing lists I saved from vacations and long weekends to serve as a reminder for the next trip. There are three recurring annnual events at work that I’m responsible for – I update and refine my event project lists to help prepare for next year’s events. I even have a list of furnishings I hoped to buy for my first apartment 45 years ago.
List-loving Anna, have you read The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon? Here’s the wikipedia description:
“The Pillow Book (枕草子, Makura no Sōshi) is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to the Empress Consort Fujiwara no Teishi during the 990s and early 1000s in the Heian period of Japan.”
Those observations and musings are LISTS! Here is a link to a scribd post with excerpts from the book. You are going to swoon: https://www.scribd.com/document/713000426/Excerpts-The-Pillow-Book
Yes I have! Thank you!
you can read the whole book on Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76016
Whoops! List-making LAURA.
Apologies.
I am a huge list maker. Drives my wife bonkers. I’ve probably gone through the equivalent of a ream of paper in the last couple of years making all sorts of lists; books I want to buy, articles on writing various genres, how-to lists for starting a writer’s retreat, a film production company, a film festival, lists of book projects I want to write, etc. My wife asks me if I’m making yet another list, I say, “Yeah-huh,” and I get yet another eyeroll.
Not only do I have a book of lists, but I use this particular notebook for the purpose, too!
I make lists of the things that I need to do every evening. I also make lists of other things but they are usually scattered around in whatever notebook/tablet I have in front of me.
Do you keep one notebook just for your lists?
Usually I have them in various depending on what they’re for, but I’m going to try and make this one my big book of lists for a bit and see!
I am a list maker, but, as much as I love the analog life, I don’t carry a purse or day pack, so my lists end up on my phone. I use the Notes app that comes with the phone. I like that it allows me to delete lists that are no longer relevant. One list I have that’s ongoing for fun is a list of pet names that are food-related. Every time I think I’ve heard a new one, I check the list. Not running into new ones very often now, but every once in a while… Meatball is my favorite for English Bulldogs. I keep the list in alphabetical order, as it’s really long and would be hard to search otherwise. Other favorites, just from the B’s: Babaganoush, Bagel, and Barley, Biscuit, BLT and Butters. Just for your entertainment.