A Dog's sense of Time........
Dogs live in the present and seem to be happy animals. Making a "to do list" and looking at that long list seems very depressing to me. Of course preparing for classes is very important and a certain amount of time managment is neccessary, however after several years of doing it, it has become rote. My life experience has shown me that most of life's stresses are self-imposed with nonexsitent urgency.
I agree that most of work stresses are self inflicted, a list isn’t a bad thing just do not let that list get very long or the self infliction will start. You can tackle things as they come up without being categorized as having immediacy.
Andrew, Yes, stress can be good for us every now and again. It definitely keeps us motivated an on task. It often shows us the priorities in work and life.
Dr. Melissa Read
Martin, To do lists can be depressing and / or overwhelming. It's important to get them done because it's often more stressful when we have to keep track of all the list items in our heads. Nonetheless, sometimes we have to reward ourselves by living in the present and just focusing on enjoying our days. To your point, that may be something we can learn from our animals.
Dr. Melissa Read
a weekly list of to do's can help keep a busy person on track especially with mutiple people assignned things that need to be done during the week or month helps keeps me organized
Twice a month my wife and I sit down together and pay bills. It gets a little heated at times budgeting monthly expenses but at the end of it we look at each other with a sense of accomplishment that brings us back together
Lawrence, Talking about money can definitely be stressful, especially when it's in limited supply. It's nice to know that you and your spouse can talk things out and work out your finances together.
Dr. Melissa Read
Paul, Yes, busy people are especially in need of lists. The irony is that they often have the least time when it comes to writing them. Overcoming this obstacle and getting things down on paper can make them far more productive in the end.
Dr. Melissa Read
a to do list is a good idea for people that have a lot to take care of in a short amount off time.
To get the most important jobs done first and then the ones that are less importance. It saves time and makes sure that everything is dome on time.
I start by opening my calendar and plan out my week by priority, class topics, tests, labs. then I fill in fun activities to go with the lessons. I have found this helps me plan out each week, without much stress or last minute planning.
James, So true. To do lists are great at keeping instructors organized and really can save time in the end. Sometimes, it's best to get the most important jobs done first. Other times, I have observed instructors who try to knock out a few simple tasks so that their queue feels a little less daunting. Both approaches work.
Dr. Melissa Read
It is definitely true that most stress is self imposed. Whether depressing or not, a "to do list" is a valuable tool. With everything that goes on in our lives at work or at home, a simple "to do list" becomes a valuable tool. As we get older, our memory starts to falter. What better way to remember than a "to do list".
William, Sounds like you start by looking broadly at your calendar and then getting detailed with the specific activities. This is a nice approach. It's good to start big picture and then drill down into the details.
Dr. Melissa Read
Craig, Yes, as we mature, sometimes our memory sometimes fails. Having external aids like to do lists can keep us productive and in the workforce. So, they become more of a vital tool as time goes by.
Dr. Melissa Read
a todo list can be helpful in todays busy world but hopefuly as we get older we get smarter and our ability to prioratize what truly is must important gets better. as for the dogs i would like to see their list.
To-Do lists are great. but when one spends more time making a TO-DO list evrey time somthing changes , the smallest tasks never seem to be accomplished.
William, You have a point. To do lists are great, but we must do a little thinking too. Relying on our senses can also work. It's important to find good task management through tools like lists but also within ourselves.
Dr. Melissa Read
Michael, So true. It's important to make sure we don't invest too much time in list strategy. When we do, we have too little time for execution.
Dr. Melissa Read
Living in the present may work for some people, however, I find that if I make a "to do list" I don't forget the small things which can add up to a big mess!
