For a while I lived a checklist life. And it was fulfilling at first–I had fun learning the basics and applying them to my everyday routine.
But then it became increasingly mechanical. Eventually, I stopped worrying so much about checking the boxes. Instead I try and direct my focus onto an easy enjoyment of life as it unfolds.
You should have some measurable goals in your life, and try to achieve them in a time-bound manner. But the daily living itself should be left to whatever unfolds in the present. We just have to make sure it is guiding us towards our goals and not veering us off-path. Otherwise we may later regret that as time wasted (procrastinated).
I think sometimes it’s necessary. I also think for some people, it is their preferred mode of being, and they genuinely derive joy from it. For others, it’s a clarification and exploration of what they truly want. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m decent at it because I focused on it for awhile, but then I realized it wasn’t fulfilling, but being able to do it without much strain–due to past experience–helps me move and think in the ways I want in my present state of growth. So I definitely can’t knock it
I never thought I wouldn’t be utilitarian, but here I am getting less and less so by the day. I suppose in a sense I still am, in that my life began shaping itself so that the priority was enjoying myself in the moment, and the seemingly nonfunctional actions I sometimes take are utilitarian towards that end.
I am in that process now. We are so conditioned to the “hustle” culture and “getting things done” and if we aren’t constantly on the go, we risk being judged for being “lazy.” These days, I am more concerned with peace and self-care than I am accomplishments. Hell, sleeping in, eating well, and reading are accomplishments in my book! So what the laundry didn’t get done…it will be there, but quality time with myself and others whom I enjoy, priceless!
I’m on board with that! What use is life if it’s a constant tradeoff, where I miss all the enjoyments and attractions so I can experience a bit of ego-driven self-accomplishment-based satisfaction here and there?
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I have a little notebook that I carry around with me wherever I go, and every day I write a to do list, mainly with basic things like “meds,” “tea,” and “food,” but also larger events and work obligations. It’s nice that the same importance is given to having a cup of tea in the morning and finishing a massive work project. Its comforting. I got a really bad concussion a couple years ago and I have a hard time remembering what I do every day since my short term memory got fucked. But with my lists I can look back and remember that I have four cups of earl grey on a random day in May, finished a book, went to the doctor, and saw a really cool bug. For me I think the key is to let the day write the list, not the other way around.
That’s a really good idea! All too often, big plans for me go unexpectedly and I get caught up in thinking they’re existentially important. Your practice honors the existential importance–I lean towards replacing that with existential enjoyment–in all equally existentially meaningless and meaningful activities!
“focus on an easy enjoyment of life as it unfolds”–the words strike me. I’m doing that more and more. I think possibly this is a way of life for later years.
Greetings, Kent Wayne. I appreciated your visit to my blog today and your liking my raggedy rhyme about “the Donald.” Looks like an overflow of imagination going on here—surely much more important than checking boxes! Cheers, Annie
How difficult it is to ignore the checklist – especially for those of us who follow the OCD religion.
Kent Wayne 
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