I ‘ve got a little list

This goes out to those of you out there who (like me) live and die by The List. Who think life can be managed by making lists. (And mostly, we’re right, right?) Who think lists are the pathways to sanity. (Sure, they are.) Who should know better. (But choose to ignore experience. Or make a list detailing why we should know better.) My list today includes writing this modest essay. See? It worked.

I love making lists. Even more, I love checking off items from the lists I make. Often I do something that is not on my list, and I add it to the list just for the joy of checking it off. Oh yes, I know some of you do this too. I have also been known to make lists of my lists. That may be taking it too far.

Here is a list of the reasons I love making lists.

1.  Making a list quiets the omg moments that keep me awake at 2 am.
2.  Making a list is a low-bar entry to actually doing whatever needs to be done. Sure, no sweat, I can make a list! It is way less scary (not to mention time-consuming) than starting the project itself.
3.  Lists break down huge tasks (writing a book, making sure Trump is not elected) into manageable action items.
4.  Lists simplify life. All I have to do today is these 5 or 10 things!
5.  Lists help me think things through. They demand logic.
6.  Lists clear my brain. I no longer have to try to remember all this. I wrote it down.
7.  Lists are finite. It may not seem like it, but my tasks are not endless.
8.  Lists keep me from procrastinating. Or forgetting priorities. Or going down rabbit holes.
9.  Crossing something off a list = instant gratification.
10. If you save your lists (um, yes, I do), they provide an historical record of your life.