Talk 'to-do' lists with Aviva - you could win £150 worth of high street vouchers. NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by the team at Aviva to find out about your probably very long to-do list  maybe it's on the fridge, on your phone or all in your head?

What's been on your to-do list forever and you've so far managed to avoid ticking off? What's your strategy for managing an ever-growing to do list? What impact did having children have on the list? Or, have you managed to tick something off? How did it make you feel?

Aviva says "With such busy lifestyles it's no surprise that families use lists to keep on top of things. However there's a temptation to focus on things we like doing, which can mean really important jobs stay on the list. Taking a little time to prioritise the things that are most important to your family's future and ticking them off could really benefit your family in the long run."

So please share your thoughts below - everyone who adds a comment below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win £150 worth of high street vouchers.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

PS Please note your comments, anon of course, may be used by Aviva on MN and possibly elsewhere.

[DaleyBump]

I tend to leave things to the very last minute. I also write lots lists and then never tick the things off right now I have lots of really important things to do and just can't be bothered doing them. I'm getting induced in 2/3 weeks and baby still has nowhere to sleep, so I really should get moving...

[worldgonecrazy]

I am a compulsive list maker. It's genetic.

I always do the things I don't want to do first. It's much better to get these things out of the way and leave the nice things until last.

[grape999]

There is nothing as satisfying as crossing jobs off a list when they are done. This is the primary purpose behind my lists! I have been known to include simple tasks like, 'move book' just to enable me to enjoy crossing it off the list.

That said, without a list, I would be a mess. I have a work list and an on-going family jobs list. If I lose one, there is major panic. The work list is fairly efficiently run through, the family jobs list, not so much. 'Pick up photographs from shop' has been on the list since July, as has 'change address on driving licence'. I strongly suspect both will remain for a few months.

[ouryve]

I write shopping lists as things come to mind, but apart from that, I only write lists when i have a lot of things to tackle, or I keep forgetting to do a particular thing.

[Fuzzysnout]

I love a 'to - do' list. It's really satisfying crossing off items, though I have been known to add things I've already done, just so I can cross them off!

I do find a lust very motivational as long as I stick to things I know I can achieve. I find it does make me get stuck into those tasks I would normally put off as I feel guilty if I leave them on the list.

[Fuzzysnout]

list - not lust!

[coffeeandcream]

I luffs lists! My lists I can't live without:

Food shopping list
Christmas food list
Holiday packing list
Things to do the night before going to work list (especially important since I'm returning from maternity leave)

Lots of lists at work as I have multiple roles, these are kept on the computer which pings up reminders at me

I have a beautiful notebook in my handbag that is for everyday chores and reminders.

Having a list keeps me calm, weird as that sounds! Plus it makes jobs easier to share and to delegate amongst colleagues and family.

I hate tasks that sit on a list for ages, very depressing

[mirtzapine]

oooohhh!!! I have a nice nappa leather notebook cover from filofax with Paperchase eco school jotter and I use the circle, circle-dot, filled in circle to denote the stage that the task is at.

On my nexus 4 I have the any.do app for shoutcasting reminders at me (it's synced to my Nexus 7, macbook, HP mobile workstation, and desktop workstations as well as Mrs Mirzapine's iphone, macbook air and workstation).

Also I use the toad diary undated 24 month diary for longterm planning. And a chalkboard wall with postits for weekly planning of meals school etc so I can transfer from any of the sources so that everyone at home can see the information and then forget it.

For work I use trello and the kanban system plus another undated toad diary.

No one would ever think I'm an anally retentive, obsessive compulsive, software engineer would they.

[nobutreally]

I love to do lists. I have lots:

1. one daily one (work & life - I'm SE/work from home so it all merges into one!)
2. project lists (we're just putting the house on the market, so I currently have a 'tidying/house titivating' list for example)
3. lists on phone of things not to forget next time I'm out (as I don't have my main list with me then)
4. Blackboard in kitchen for food things

I also operate a star system on the main daily list - so things that need doing today have two star, things that can 'carry over' have one - helpful I find to prioritise that way otherwise I tend to do the nice/easy jobs first Anything that doesn't get done one day, moves onto the next days list, which I find is a useful way to stop myself avoiding things - it gets embarressing when I'm, writing 'return library books' for the 10th day running....!

[mirtzapine]

sorry forgot the ™ tm symbol next to tode™ don't want anyone to get in trouble

[mirtzapine]

™

[nobutreally]

Oh, and on 'life lists' haven't done one for a while, but dh and I both did

1. things to achieve by 40
2. Things not to do until we were 30

when we were about 25. Lots of those are ticked off now - we should probably do a new one ...It was a lovely thing to do, and helped us prioritise nice things we wanted to do for us before we settled down & had kids - as well as giving us a real sense of shared vision.

[mirtzapine]

oh! encoding is stripped out tcha!

[tootssweet]

I love a good list! I use my phone, iPad & work computer which have a very satisfying check box next to them & a fab strike out I have them separated out into work & home though I do agree with specialised lists for Christmas etc.

Nothing feels better than clearing your list (not that it often happens!)

[BobaFetaCheese]

I love a good list, I'll make one for anything.

Currently the oldest thing on our house lists is;
Buy kitchen light cover. Had it on there since Sept 2008, when we re-did the kitchen. Poor naked lightbulb

[babsmam]

I love a to do list at home and at work with an extra shopping list. I keep my lists with my diary so I can attempt to be uber organized. For other times I have carry forward list that I put in my diary near the next year's event ready. Christmas is a good example. And to make sure I know where I am I have a list of which lists I keep.

I find it quite cathartic to have lists. If I don't I find myself getting stressed trying to remember everything and something inevitably gets lost without lists

having tried all options I find a good old notebook and pen is the best.

[themummyonthebus]

I love lists.

My work one is electronic and everything is broken down into bite sized actions so I can't procrastinate.

My home lists are all handwritten. I normally have a few on the go at the same time. At the moment I've got the following lists:
Perpetual shopping list
General things to do
De-cluttering action list
Questions for the builder
Things to buy for the bathroom
List of requirements for kitchen designer

I love lists!

[scripsi]

I make a list every morning and also update the long term list. I find some issues (eg long term money matters) quite difficult to confront so I have a tendency to focus on the short term but neglect the long run.

[Bryzoan]

Fining enough, getting wills and life insurance are two things that have been on my to do list way too long.

I have 2 to do lists - a non time specific one (where some stuff can fester) and a daily / calendar one to make sure I meet dependencies. I keep them in notepads on my phone - and delete stuff as it is done. I do like the feeling of lightness as it shrinks - but it does mean don't get the satisfaction of seeing how much is ticked off.

[dasteve]

My todo list is so long but it's just in my head so things keep falling off it!

It includes decorating about half of the house, sorting out the vegetable garden, turfing the front garden, sorting out Christmas presents and loads of other things I've forgotten since I started writing this.

[RubySparks]

I have the perpetual shopping list and also say if its not on the list it would get bought (like cointreau). However this mostly results in a shopping list which says things like beer, chocolate, sweets, crisps, ice cream....

Always have to do lists on the go thanks to a never ending renovation project that is our house, often on scraps of paper or post it notes and often misplaced!

About to read an article on having a five year plan which will likely result in more things to do, probably financial...

[LonelyGoatherd]

I've always loved making lists and crossing jobs off them. I dallied with using my phone, but am back to the proper pen and cutesy notebook now. Like my granny, I start each day by making a to-do list, and a sub-list of shopping I've forgotten in the weekly shop. I have meal plan lists, clothes I lust after list, and what-to-achieve-in-5-years lists.

I'm pretty good at ticking things off quickly (but things have to be on the list to have a chance of getting done!). Having children has made lists even more essential - goodbye spontaneity!

[bigwellyfucker]

Since combining full time work, a house and garden renovation and raising two children lists are a necessary part of survival!

I have a notebook and in that I have lists for every day chores and reminders, Christmas and birthday ideas for myself and my family. I keep one section for weekly meal planning and shopping lists - I don't tear these out so can always look back for inspiration. I also list what work we need to do on the house and garden and what materials we need (so we can save money on offer days at DIY stores) as well as phone conversations with trades.

I use a phone app tied to my Gmail calendar for regular to do lists but always have my paper copy.

[4yoniD]

A list is a must to me, or it plays on my mind.

If I don't have much, it's a piece of paper in my diary. If I have loads, I use PocketMod (google it - it's great!).

I get great satisfaction from re-writing my list whenever it gets too scruffy from things being crossed off! I do find it irritating the jobs which get re-written on list after list. Sometimes it increases my motivation to get on and do it, sometimes it makes me re-evaluate whether I should give up on a job - forget about it completely, and if it needs doing in the future it can go back on the list then.

At the moment I am planning on having building work done, and it is annoying having huge, long lasting tasks on my list - arrange mortgage, find rental, and so on - but this too shall pass!

[stealthsquiggle]

I make endless lists, but they are not global, long term "to do" lists those would be too scary - more a "things that need to get done today" list - and those things need to be of a manageable size. There is no point writing "tidy house" on a list because it is never going to happen. If I have (for example) "spare room" on the list, and a deadline (usually someone coming to stay) then the spare room will get rescued from under the heaps of crap cleared and tidied.

On my work list are always all the endless admin tasks which really really need to be done but always end up being left in favour of something less boring more urgent. Those are depressing lists.

A finished to do list is a rare but good feeling. It makes me feel that I actually have achieved something rather than just run around like a headless chicken all day.