The trouble that I have with to-do lists is that I want to see them crossed off. It’s not that I’m trying to avoid having them. Actually, I really like to know that my day will be filled with productive work. But this semester, I’ve struggled with my lists because, many times, it seemed that my individual chores (the ones that are definitely repeating, such as grading) would reappear or refill themselves before I could get a chance to cross them off. This never-ending cycle made me feel like I was only a step or two from this tidal wave that would crash down on my at any moment. I hate that feeling. 
So, for example, on Monday and Tuesday, before I could read all the submissions for Basic (got it down to 10 or so), the students refilled the submissions folder with 80 different pieces.
However, though this week started out so discouragingly, it is ending so much more do-ably! I managed to empty the submissions folder on Wednesday night. I caught up on my Comp grading on Wednesday before I left CU. And that meant that, yesterday, I had time to start my grad school project early and to work on the Christmas program for church! And I got my oil changed. And I ran errands. And I finished folding all the laundry. And we went to bed early (like 9:00) with lights out about 9:45. How. very. lovely.
So, thanks to all of you for praying and encouraging me this week. Hopefully, this was the crest of the wave and I will be able to keep ahead of everything better now. And hopefully, I have learned the lesson of trusting and resting instead of freaking out (Is. 30:15)! Between God, my husband, and my Xanga peeps…I am most certainly blessed.
As for today, it’s off to CU for the day again. I don’t have as much prep time this morning because of the 10 am faculty meeting (woo.hoo.
). But tonight, I think Eric and I will be going on a date. And this weekend, we have lots of time to relax and sleep in and get work done. Happy Friday!
I was thinking the same thing as Terri, but I just filled in the time with ideas of my own!! If I was wrong, you can let us all know!!
^Bah on Kimberly. Bah.Bah.Bah.^
I did wonder if Kimberly would allow me to answer Terri’s questions! I didn’t figure she would.
TERRI! completely inappropriate!
Aunt Barb has a fabulous idea. I think you should take her up on that!
What’s on the agenda for your date? Oktoberfest, maybe?
What in the world did you do for 45 minutes in bed before lights out!!????
I think you should begin to view your ‘to-do’ list as a weekly job list. Too much pressure when you think you have to get it all done at once!!
Glad you’re feeling so much better! Praying you have crested the wave!!
Maybe you need to create 2 different to-do lists. One that is a list of things that you need to do once before it refills and a “rotating-refill” list. The first one you can cross off what is done and maybe the “refill list” coult have spaces like an attendance sheet and every time you complete a round of papers you get a check mark so you can see how incredibly much you actually complete even though it refills itself. It could be a to-do list without the purpose of having to cross it off and be done. It would be a list to show how much you actually complete. If the purpose is no longer to get it “crossed off” maybe that will take some of the frustration out of your list.