Track Records and To-do/Done Lists By Stephanie Berget

I have a confession.

Much of the time, I have a serious lack of confidence in myself. One way I’ve found to add self-confidence to my pattern of thinking is to make a list of all the terrific things I’ve done or had happen in my life. I keep a list of things I’m proud of, that I’m excited about, or that make me want to do a happy dance.

A Track Record, as my niece calls it, replenishes my supply of positive vibes and prevents me from focusing on the negative. By being specific and listing on paper the things that make you smile, your blessings become self-perpetuating.
So when I’m having a serious doubt-myself day, I read my Track Record, and life simplifies. There on one small piece of paper are the joys and victories of my life. All I need to do is write it down as a reminder that Life is Good.

I have a confession.

Sometimes I don’t have a lot of confidence in myself. I know--you’ve heard this before. Stay with me for a minute, and I’ll explain. I’m fairly new to writing, and I just learned a technique to help with positive thinking as I put words on the page. Make a To-do list. It sounds simple, but when you make a list then cross things off as they are finished, your sense of accomplishment expands like a helium balloon.

Add them to your Done list, and you have permanent proof you haven’t been wasting time. As writers, we commonly get caught up in the impossibly long list of things we have to do and the short amount of time available to get them done. Between children, full time jobs and the other must-do-now items that control our lives, lack of time is daunting and can knock your Muse off her perch.

Muses tend to take this personally and lock themselves in their closet, refusing to come out to play. Mine certainly does. To make her happy again, and to be able to get some serious writing done, I can now pull out my Done list.

I first heard about To-Do and Done lists in an article about resolutions. I was in a slump, and the thought of tackling my To-Do list for 2012 was overwhelming. So in an attempt to jump start my writing, I began my Done list for 2011. I wasn’t very optimistic about the number of things I’d actually finished. As I thought back over the year and remembered items, my list grew. I was surprised at the amount of things I’d Done, when I thought I was treading water. Just counting the items I’ve accomplished reminded me of all I’ve achieved and excited me about things I’m now putting on my To-do list for 2012. Writing is fun again.

Here are my lists for 2011 (I’m working on 2012)

Track Record, Life.

I raised three terrific, accomplished children.
DH & I will celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary this spring.
From my back deck, I have views of three different mountain ranges and an extinct volcano.
I found out I could write more than one book.
DH is building a writing room. I’ll have an official office.
My parents are healthy.
I have a smart, sweet grandson and a beautiful step-granddaughter.
I’m surrounded by people who build me up.
Although my sister doesn’t read much, she loves my book and wants to read the second one.
I have a surplus of friends, old and new, all cherished.

Done List, Writing 2011

I finished the rough draft on my fourth book.
I set up a website (almost by myself. Thanks, Amberly).
I learned to Tweet. I know, not a big deal to many of you, but to me it was a major accomplishment learning Twitter.
The best critique partners in the world found me and kept me.
I began writing my own blog and contributed to another.
Revisions are going well on my Contemporary Western manuscript.
I became a board member of our local RWA Chapter, Coeur du Bois.
I finished NaNoWriMo for the third time.
I did my first critique for our chapter’s online service and learned so much.
I started learning about E-Publishing and Independent Publishers.
I traveled to my first writer’s conference and met amazing people.

My challenge to you: WRITE IT DOWN.

Think about your life and write down everything you’ve done that makes you proud, happy, excited or unique in your own eyes. Bask in the glow for a few minutes. Then. . .

Write down everything you crossed off your writing To-do list from last year.

You’ve seen mine. It’s not perfect. Many people have longer ones and some have shorter ones, but this one is all mine, and I’m very happy with the way it turned out.

What will you put on your lists?