Join the discussion.

Inklings News

Join the discussion.

Inklings News

Join the discussion.

Inklings News

Crossing this off the to-do list

Crossing this off the to-do list

In sixth grade, I had a massive social studies project due. It was one of those projects that we had been working on for weeks and I had spent the entire night before perfecting. But when the teacher said, “Okay everybody hand in your projects,” it was gone. I scurried through my bag four times before I accepted that it wasn’t in there.

I was near tears when I approached my teacher to explain that it had to be sitting under my desk, having fallen off while packing my backpack the night before. With two working parents, I couldn’t be saved.

That’s when it all started.

Since that day, I’ve made lists for everything. Before I can do any work, I need to make a list. I go through every class that I have and put the assignments on different lists depending on their due date.

I make lists for homework, lists for babysitting, lists of things I want, lists of things I need, lists of colleges, lists of restaurants, lists of passwords.

I just can’t stop.

And I’m not alone. List making is a widespread way for people of all ages to stay on top of tasks. According to BBC, “Your mind loves it when a plan comes together – the mere act of planning how to do something frees us from the burden of unfinished tasks.”

Our brains are actually wired to continue to remind us of unfinished tasks, which is known as the Zeigarnik effect. The unconscious mind repeatedly asks the conscious mind to make a plan to complete the task. List making is the easiest way to stop the nagging from the unconscious mind by giving you the chance to actually see what you have to do, and make a plan for when you’re going to do it.

Completing the simple task of planning what you have to do can make the rest of your day, or even week, much less stressful.

Don’t wait until you forget your social studies project at home before you start making lists. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover
About the Contributor
Julie Bender, Web Opinions Editor
Baby sitting and journalism may seem to have nothing in common, but Julie Bender ’15 packs both professions into her high school career. While many students were off at camp or vacationing this summer, Bender was hard at work baby sitting families and friends. She was extremely dedicated to her job, practically becoming the neighborhood babysitter. Her baby skills easily compliment to her journalism skills as “dealing with children is like dealing with interviewees.” Using her same dedication towards her baby sitting monopoly, Bender hopes to improve her writing skills before she leaves Staples in 2015. There is no rush, however, as Bender “loves getting the info out” through journalism. After three years of being ruled over by seniors, Bender finally finds herself at the top of the food chain in high school. The best moment of the summer was “taking off the junior parking sticker” Bender said. Finally bursting through the doors as a senior girl, covered in feathers and whistles is a moment that all high school girls can’t wait for. Her excitement as a senior has added on to her excitement for journalism this year. Bender has a passion for opinions and news articles; she loves the fun, fast-paced language that is used in the writing style. It also gives her opportunities to interview unique and interesting people. Her favorite article she wrote, in fact, was an article on Hookah and E-Cig usage in high school because the interview process was one of the most awkward. Whether it is journalism or caring for children, Julie Bender brings all aspects of high school to the table in her last year writing for Inklings. She hopes to end the year strong and keep up with her hard work and dedication in and out of high school.  

Comments (0)

All Inklings News Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *