Tainted Wisdom

All I should have to say is “make a list.” Actually, it’s more like “make a list and do the shit on your list.” There is no certain formula for making your list, but it helps to specifically state what you are going to do and when you are going to do it.

For instance, if you want to lose weight, an item on your list, “lose weight,” isn’t likely to work as well as “don’t eat any bread from January 2008 to February 2008,” or “don’t eat snacks from January 2008 to February 2008,” or whatever. I once went on a diet and lost 10 lbs in one month. On my list (an electronic spreadsheet), one of the listed items was: “don’t eat sugar, bread, rice, potatoes, or pasta from January 2007 to February 2007.” Every morning I’d read my list, and I’d read, “don’t eat sugar, bread, rice, potatoes, or pasta from January 2007 to February 2007.” Guess what? I lost weight. I lost 10 lbs in one month.

Another example: I learned to type as an adult. I did it by putting on my list:

“LEARN TO TYPE
Buy typing program after work on Monday, at Best Buy, at 6:30pm.”

When Monday at 6:30pm came, I was at Best Buy and guess what I bought?

I then changed my list:

“LEARN TO TYPE
Install program after work on Tuesday at 6:30pm”

And finally:

“LEARN TO TYPE
Practice with typing program every day from 6:30pm to 7:00pm.”

In two months, I was typing 60 words per minute without looking at the keyboard.

In summary:

1. You are more likely to do something if you write it down and read it daily.
2. You are more likely to get something accomplished if you specifically spell out how you are going to do something, one small step at a time, and exactly when you are going to do it.

Finally, I’d recommend you start with one thing, get into the groove, and then add the next thing to your list, and then the next thing. Don’t overwhelm yourself or you might lose motivation. Four “must do” tasks per day are about right for me. Any more, and it is too much given the requirements of my day job.

Right now my list says:

1. Walk the dog from 5:00am to 5:45am
2. Go to gym from 5:45am to 6:45am
3. Write 1000 words per day from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
4. Don’t drink more than a half bottle of wine per day.

I’m doing it all. I don’t put anything about my day job down because I have to do that. Whether I list it or not, I will show up at work at 8:00am and stay until 5:00pm. Actually I’m not doing it all. I admit my failure to follow #4, if ever, but nobody is perfect, eh? #4 is a joke anyway. At least I’m writing and keeping the dog and me in shape.