Understanding the To Do

12/10/10

My To Do List is a word document simply titled: To Do. It’s not fancy, it’s not integrated, it’s not synched with my phone, it’s just a list. It’s the most visited document on my computer and it is ever changing.

Each day I visit it to remind myself what I want To Do. Whenever I think of something that needs to be done, I add to it. When I’ve done a task, I delete it. The idea is to end up with a blank page.

Of course, that’s never going to happen is it? There’s always something to be done.

The order my To Do’s appear in, are the order they should be done. Or ideally done. Or at least, in the order I think I’ll get them done.

For instance; this morning, my To Do looked like this;

To Do

Job seek

Viva First Aid

Gym session

Blog update

Job Seek because I’m currently unemployed.

Viva First Aid because I’m a qualified personal trainer and it’s time to renew my first aid certificate

Gym Session because my own fitness and how I feel about my body is a big priority in my life

Blog update because when I do something I like to do it right and I should really be updating every day

My Dad and his fiancée are visiting from New Zealand. On Friday they’re going to Brisbane and I’ve got to get them to the airport for a crazy early flight on Friday morning.

Thing is, I’ve never driven to the domestic airport before and even after 8 years in Sydney, driving somewhere I’ve never driven before makes me nervous.

So, right now, my To Do looks like this;

To Do

Job seek

Viva First Aid

Dummy run to domestic

Gym session

Blog update

Yes, I’m going to do a dummy run to the airport.

Really, the most important thing for me to be doing right now is finding full time employment. I had a snoop around Seek this morning, half-heartedly; I saved a couple of advertisements to get back to later. But I’m feeling kind of bummed right now. Uninspired. My confidence is cracking.

Like life, the most important things don’t always happen the way you’d like them to.

Job seek or “application away” and gym session are 2 To Do’s that are pretty much a permanent task on my list right now.

Further down my To Do are lesser priorities, longer term projects, stuff I’d “like to get done in an ideal world” and reminders for follow ups. We’ll get round to those later.

Looking back at my list, I realise that every task has its own story behind it. No doubt I’ll elaborate more about them on the way.

And as I press publish, it changes again.

To Do

Job seek

Viva First Aid

Dummy run to domestic

Gym session