Living life by lists

Two typical lists written on sticky notes, every night.

    Are you one for lists?

    Lots of folks in their older years ignore lists, thinking being retired means using free time as one wishes.

    I agree with that, but I also like to be productive every day, and hence I use lists, like the one above.

    I slavishly follow a list, most of the time. I don't always get to all the tasks listed. This week, I forgot to buy cereal, the first item on my food shopping list. (I think it was because our local Hy-Vee was packed, and many employees were once again moving items from one aisle to another!) Who could even find the cereal?

    Anyway, I suspect it's lists for me and others.

    If you google "list-making" + why, you find people who make YouTube videos on lists, as well as numerous magazine articles and entire books on how to do this task, making yourself as productive and focused as possible. 

    Experts say a good list also dampens anxiety and nerves and allows you to continue productively through life.

    Every night at home I write down a "to do" list for the next day. This is scribbled on a sticky note.

    Priorities are reading the daily newspaper (obvious for a former newspaper reporter) and exercise. This time of year I'm fighting the Japanese beetles in our yard and front garden, especially on the hibiscus tree that looks just lovely out front.

    We stay busy. Some reasons why:

    Our daughter, Kirstin, recently had twin girls, and while they are doing very well, the family will need help from grandparents -- including me and husband, Steve. The family lives almost three hours away, in Ankeny.

    We live in a social neighborhood and like to visit with the neighbors on a regular basis. 

    We watch many movies, and I got into the habit of Googling each show to see the cast list, read the overview and the reviews. This practice, by the way, is not exactly popular at times. Not everyone likes to know the background of all cast members in the movie we are all watching.

    We travel a lot, mostly to central Iowa these days, but also to see siblings and some favorite teams at play. The Minnesota Twins, as one example, are leading the Central Division of the American League and we'd like to catch a game.

    I love to garden, and keep up several gardens on our 1-acre property in Scott County, Iowa. Find my gardening blog here.

    I keep the house clean and sparkly, as well as decorated nicely.

    Comedian Bill Burr is visiting Des Moines in October and we hope to see that show. We generally see the Iowa State Cyclones and Iowa Hawkeyes in action in the fall. 

    Steve's grandson, Brady Hansen, is also the quarterback on the Davenport West High School grid team and we attend several games each year.

    All of this is to explain why lists are necessary. I use them as a guiding light, so to speak, and as a way to step from Point A to Point B.

    Do you?