Ah! I’m so torn. Today is Nov 1, which is the first day of the month and the first day of NaBloPoMo, which I am enthusiastically participating in (sign up with San if you want to too!). I think I shall push my reintroduction post a couple days, because I want to spend today looking at some “Must-dos” for November.
As you may know, I read Kendra Adachi’s The Plan recently, and have been trying to create an organizational system that works for my ADHD raddled brain. Reading her book, I was made aware – AGAIN! – that my biggest problem is trying to take on too much. One of her recommendations is to look at the month ahead and write down a list of “Must-dos” and “Hope-tos”. Then, and this is maybe the most important part for me, she recommends breaking them down into their component parts, so you really see what each “task” requires. Most of the time one “task” is really a many step project.
November is a busy month for me this year because my sister is in town (she usually comes in January). A couple things happen every November (making the calendar and putting up the tree), and some are specific to this November (cleaning up the downstairs because of my sister in town AND I’m hosting book club on 12/1). So here are my five Must-dos, with a bonus Hope-tos at the bottom.
Make calendars
- Text SIL to get her photos
- Move photos on phone to folder
- Upload photos
- Choose template
- Make calendar for fam
- Make calendar for ILs
- Final check and order calendars
Put up tree
- Get tree from shed
- Put together tree
- Get down Xmas box
- Put up lights + star
- Decorate with kids
- Reorganize Xmas box
Clean up downstairs
- Straighten up kitchen
- Wipe counters/mop kitchen
- Straighten room
- Vacuum/mop floor
- Straighten bathroom
- Wipe counters/mop floor
- Clean shower
1A free reading program launch
- Library inventory
- Library barcodes print
- Library barcode stickers
- List page finalized
- Boards copied
- Patron QR codes printed
- Slide deck updated
Sister in town
- Sat (11/9) LoH DJ day with kids
- Sat (11/9) evening plans?
- Sun (11/10) dinner at parents’ house
- Walk after school one day?
- Something the weekend of 16/17?
Hope-tos
- Clean out bench (to store Xmas presents)
- Learn 2/3 of form (martial arts)
- Donate clothes
- Get rid of fridge
- Tri2 pacing guide doc
- 1B library ready
Now that I have these lists written out, I will put events (when my sister is in town) on the calendar and tasks in the three priority bullet points for each week of the month. Hopefully then I’ll stay on top of these important projects and not end up having to do the whole calendar during the Thanksgiving break.
I’m realizing right now that this might be the most boring post ever! And I putting it up to start NaBloPoMo! A harbinger for what’s to come?! 🤣🤦♀️
I’ll check in at the end of the month to let you know how all these projects/tasks worked out. They all have to happen, so I know they will, I just want them to happen more intentionally. Maybe what I really hope to do is realize how much I’ve already committed to and make decisions about what else to commit to accordingly (a couple Hope-to tasks originally were on my Must-do list but I moved them over after seeing the entire list and being more honest with myself about what really had to happen and what I wanted to happen.
not at all boring to me, I LOVE seeing the different ways people organize their lists! That does look like a lot of stuff. I tend to ‘calendar’ more in directly bc I don’t like being overwhelmed by a long list but everyone has different preferences!
I think breaking your list down like that makes a lot of sense, so you can see what is really involved. Putting up a Christmas tree is usually kind of time consuming, especially decorating. I love our pre-lit one, that makes things SO MUCH EASIER.
I thought about getting a prelim tree. I just worried if some lights stopped working I’d have to replace it. How long have you had yours? Putting the lights on is def my least fav part (though I love that our lights can be white or colored or change back and forth).
That is a very busy November ! wow, all those lists – I love it, you can check them off as you go.
I love reading lists like this. Also, you’re reminding me that I MUST get the photo calendars prepped. This time last year I already had them ordered. Each year it feels like a chore…and then each year everyone loves them so I’ve painted myself into a proverbial corner. It is on my must-do list for next week.
Not boring at all… I also love seeing how other people organize themselves and I love how you broke it up into different groups. I usually have one running to-do list organized by priority and time sensitivity. I would probably benefit from a must-to and hope-to list.
P.S. So happy you’re doing NaBloPoMo again! Yay! Thanks for spreading the word!
inspiring again. Also totally waaaay more than I could handle nowadays. VERY AMBITIOUS. Once again, looks impossible and yet over the years I have learned you will make it happen.
I love people’s to do lists. I’m currently in marking hell but at least it’s only 2x a term. I can’t imagine perpetual marking tasks, particularly considering I’m like a dog with a bone until I get it all done. We have 10 working days to send it in for moderation – but I just really hate it hanging over me. Planning on getting the on-time submissions done this weekend and then tackling the lates, but I’ve got dissertation lit reviews coming in next week as well.
List a great. Specially goal lists.
Breaking it down make it so much more approachable.
Wishing you all the best in checking of these things. And most of them have a fun reward when you are done.
Happy to read a long for NaBloPoMo.
Love me a good list! Well done 🙂