Making Time

In an attempt to improve accountability and productivity in our office we were introduced to an accountability coach. For a ton of money per hour she gave us "tools" to "fix ourselves."

No one is perfect. Everyone has one thing or another they can improve on. Everyone can learn to be a little more accountable.

In one of our one-on-one meetings she told me to throw out all of my to do lists and use a tool she referred to as a "Complete Each Day Completely." First of all, as a to do list addict how am I to simply do away with the list? Without my task list I am convinced I would be unable to do my job - how would I know which client needed what?! Her rationale is that people who use to do lists try to cram too much into one day. She claims that we believe we can "make time."

Yesterday I made a short list of things to do when I got home. Nothing huge - simply a few little things (vacuum, weeding, make dinner, and go to the gym). Sadly, the only thing that got done was the gym.

This morning I woke up at 4:30am just because. However, in that amount of time I did my vacuuming and threw stuff into a crockpot for dinner. Two things on my "to do list" were done. I think I understand why to do lists can be detrimental - it can be completely devastating when things on the list are left undone. Added stress. No fun.

Even if I don't physically have a list written down there is always a to do list running in my head -- laundry, pay bills, pick up dry cleaning, call family, church stuff, and on and on and on.

Is it possible to exist without a to do list? Is it possible to have a to do list without "making time" and waking up at an thinkable hour because there are things that need to be done and I am trying to make time?