By HD Silversmith
I'm a great believer in the to-do list and I have been since college.
When I first went to university I couldn't believe how much reading was assigned (it's usually a shock to most newly arrived college students, and I was an English major to boot). In order to keep track of it all, I'd make lists of each week's readings and assignments in each class, and as I completed each one, I'd cross it off my list.
With different colored highlighters.
There was no rhyme or reason to the color scheme, mind you. It just kept the list looking ... interesting. I could instantly see how much I'd accomplished and feel a little thrill (okay, I'm a tad obsessive and anal).
This habit continued through my M.A. (also in English) and Ph.D. (in a different field), and it persists to this day. Now, however, my lists are typed, not handwritten, and for the past several years I've printed them out onto Circa notebook paper from Levenger. (I have the junior size notebook, in red leather) and keep track of them that way.
(Staples has Circa-compatible paper and Circa clone notebooks for much less money -- that's where I get my refills.)
Anyway, I just wrote up my to-do list for the week that lies ahead of me. I consult my syllabi, my calendar, the notes I've jotted down on the previous week's list, notes I've made in meetings about things I have to do -- and as usual, I feel a little jolt of panic as I contemplate my current list for the upcoming week.
Just when the hell am I supposed to get any writing done?
Deep breath.
The answer? On Thursdays and Fridays for a minimum of three hours each day. That's what I decided on earlier, and that I can do (but haven't actually been doing with any regularity -- yet).
However, given the end-of-February deadline I have, that's not going to be enough.
Another deep breath.
It is, however, going to have to be a good enough beginning.
