Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think planning your day is wasting time you could use?

101 replies

underthesunshine · 01/04/2023 23:15

I don't mean planning things if you work from home or something but my close friend literally plan things like

  • first 15 mins after waking, let dog out, brush teeth and do skin care
  • feed dog and make breakfast
  • call dentist to make appointment
  • check emails
  • get ready
  • take dog out for walk
  • go to work

You get the gist... very detailed of quite small non thought about things?

I'm not judging her by any means! Just surprised doing such a detailed list doesn't just waste more time of your day... she said she likes having the plan and routine before she starts the day or she feels overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed if you have a whole load of things you need to do and remember and therefore writing a list but... brushing teeth? Confused that's something I'd maybe make for my toddler.

OP posts:
Ducksinthebath · 02/04/2023 08:27

Whenharrymetsmelly · 02/04/2023 08:12

Good lord, why does everyone on MN have to have ADHD, autism etc!!? 🙄🤯

Show quote history

Generic factors probably. 🤷🏻‍♀️

schnauzerbeard · 02/04/2023 08:30

I made notes like this weekly on my phone. I then update each item with the tick emoji. It's just how I like to remember tasks I have to do.

Ragwort · 02/04/2023 08:34

It's taken me less than 30 seconds to write today's list ... maybe I don't plan enough? Grin

Reinventinganna · 02/04/2023 08:38

I use two apps day to day. One is timed (so at this time I need to do this) and one is a checklist for building habits etc.

I love lists, they empty my mind of useless things that I need to remember.

namechange3394 · 02/04/2023 08:49

underthesunshine · 01/04/2023 23:27

I really didn't mean any offence by it and I didn't come here to poke fun. I was just genuinely curious if this was actually something a lot of people seem to do? It seems very mundane to me and yes, time consuming to have to even think about things I don't need to consider thinking about and hurting my head deciding where that's going to go in the day.

She doesn't have ADHD, genuinely wasn't trying to suggesting coping mechanisms for that are strange.

You don't consider they need thinking about. She does. Why on earth would that bother you?

Original poster
underthesunshine · 02/04/2023 08:51

Doesn't bother me! Was really more about being an observation but clearly this is very common then

OP posts:
seperatedmum · 02/04/2023 08:53

underthesunshine · 01/04/2023 23:15

I don't mean planning things if you work from home or something but my close friend literally plan things like

  • first 15 mins after waking, let dog out, brush teeth and do skin care
  • feed dog and make breakfast
  • call dentist to make appointment
  • check emails
  • get ready
  • take dog out for walk
  • go to work

You get the gist... very detailed of quite small non thought about things?

I'm not judging her by any means! Just surprised doing such a detailed list doesn't just waste more time of your day... she said she likes having the plan and routine before she starts the day or she feels overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed if you have a whole load of things you need to do and remember and therefore writing a list but... brushing teeth? Confused that's something I'd maybe make for my toddler.

is brushing her teeth doesn't come naturally to her that's probably why she needs the dentist 🥺

namechange3394 · 02/04/2023 08:57

"brushing teeth? that's something I'd maybe make for my toddler."

Oh come on OP, this is clearly making fun.

Kanaloa · 02/04/2023 10:23

underthesunshine · 02/04/2023 08:51

Doesn't bother me! Was really more about being an observation but clearly this is very common then

I mean it was more about judging really. An observation would be ‘my friend makes lists, does anyone else do this?’ A judgement attaches your own negative ideas to it ie ‘it is wasting time’ and ‘it’s more for a toddler.’

I mean she’s wasted less time than you have wasted on here - you’ve reproduced her list and added a paragraph about how unnecessary you think it is. Why didn’t you use that time to be more useful? I mean at least her time was wasted in a way that was not judging or being unkind about her friend.

HamstersAreMyLife · 02/04/2023 10:28

I plan my day in a similar way and find that bit of time makes me far more effective. OH plans nothing, would say planning like this is unnecessary and would get to the end of the day without doing several things on his list. I find a list helps me multitasking and get things done but I think it depends on who has the mental load. OH has the benefit of knowing I carry this and will pick up what he forgets, I can't do the same so planning is important for me otherwise balls get dropped.

burnoutbabe · 02/04/2023 10:29

I am semi retired and work just a few days a week. So I do a clear to do list for each g work list to ensure I get it all done or plan it in for next day.

I then write a home to do list! I have always been saying "gosh I'd love to rewatch cracker or Sherlock or start west wing". So it's on a list and I plan which one I will focus on that week -else I spend my time watching Lorraine or Sunday brunch.

Just gives me more focus to my days.

youveturnedupwelldone · 02/04/2023 11:07

If I want to achieve particular things in a day I make a list to make sure I don't forget, and plan my day around what I need to do. I can't imagine why you think this isn't a good idea?!

burnoutbabe · 02/04/2023 11:16

I don't think I'd write down brush teeth though -unless say it was a mid afternoon dentist trip and I wanted to refresh after lunch.

Do face mask is often noted down as I have loads as presents and need to remember to occasionally do them!

My2pence2day · 02/04/2023 11:26

Reinventinganna · 02/04/2023 08:38

I use two apps day to day. One is timed (so at this time I need to do this) and one is a checklist for building habits etc.

I love lists, they empty my mind of useless things that I need to remember.

This. I wouldn't go far as brushing teeth, but I note tasks and have lists so I don't have to bother wasting space and energy to remember it

Talltia · 02/04/2023 11:31

I think yabu.

I tend to make lists like that. It doesn't take long to make the list.

The reasons for making such a detailed list are that a list keeps me on track and doing things in order, it's easy to get caught up scrolling my phone and neglect to do small but important jobs, I'm also getting more forgetful with things like ringing the dentist so a reminder is useful.

I like checking off my list. That way I can see that I've done quite a lot. Some days can feel a bit of a blur but when you look at your ticked off list you can see that you've covered all the basics plus got some jobs out of the way.

Windbeneathmybingowings · 02/04/2023 11:32

YABU.

Talltia · 02/04/2023 11:32

To add I wouldn't write down brushing my teeth, but I would write painting my nails, having breakfast, putting a washing load on.

burnoutbabe · 02/04/2023 11:38

Talltia · 02/04/2023 11:32

To add I wouldn't write down brushing my teeth, but I would write painting my nails, having breakfast, putting a washing load on.

If you need to paint your nails before x evebt then you do need to plan when carefully to make sure they don't smudge -so during a tv show or whilst watching a work webinar.

MarquessofPembroke · 02/04/2023 11:42

Good lord, why does everyone on MN have to have ADHD, autism etc!!?

Everyone on TikTok now has ADHD according to DD.

I tick the boxes but know I'm just scatty and therefore not going to jump on the bandwagon of demanding a diagnosis and medication!

Social media is nuts!

yano · 02/04/2023 11:52

I have detailed lists like this; things often don't get done if they're not on the list. I get overwhelmed by trying to remember mundane stuff along with specific additional tasks, so putting literally everything on the list means I'm less likely to forget something.

I also didn't have ADHD...until it turned out that I actually did, and have done for my entire life. This was one of the techniques I was using to attempt to mitigate that. Didn't find out until I was in my 40s, but had been doing this for years by then.

I know you've said you're not being judgmental, but: "Overwhelmed if you have a whole load of things you need to do and remember and therefore writing a list but... brushing teeth? that's something I'd maybe make for my toddler."
That really doesn't read as 'not judgmental' to me?

GordonShakespearedoesChristmas · 02/04/2023 12:04

You are judging her tho?

Reinventinganna · 02/04/2023 12:08

Mine has things like morning routine and evening routine rather than brush teeth but would include showering, skincare, teeth etc. It’s a nice easy one to tick off to motivate me to achieve everything else on the list.

emptythelitterbox · 02/04/2023 12:23

Good thing she's allowed to live her life how she wants to instead of how you think she should!

Jellycatspyjamas · 02/04/2023 12:30

I need a list - usually I’ll take 10 mins at night to think through what I need to do the next day, it means I wake with a clear plan and feel motivated to get stuff done. Between my plan for the day and my paper diary my life is pretty organised, if I don’t write it down somewhere it’s probably my not going to happen.

Orcubed · 02/04/2023 12:40

I love a list. I also love to include small automatic things such as getting dressed because they 1. still take up time and 2. are an easy tick

I’m also easily distracted so I can go in the bathroom to clean my teeth, notice water marks on the screen so clean the shower, see the loo roll is running low so go to the airing cupboard to get a new one, refold the pile of towels that has toppled, hear the washing machine is about to end so clear the airer and put the clothes away, hang the new load up and then realise I still haven’t cleaned my teeth 😳 (I do actually clean my teeth as soon as I get up in the morning before I do anything else so I’m not walking around gross but the above is an example of why I’d include small things like brushing my teeth in a list!)