To-Death of the To-Do List!

[The Introvert]

Setting boundaries leads to attainable gratification, which inevitably becomes apathy.

Why explore an idea, action, or adventure further if you've already attained your preconceived standard of "enough"? How do we know what interests us if we stop searching before we stop wanting to search?

To-Do lists should be reserved to the most mundane of rituals; "Remember to eat today", or "I have an appointment at __ ".

We're INTP's - We should be satiating our exploratory nature, not basking in contentful adequacy.

 

[Absurdity]

I think I agree with you, but for different reasons.

It seems to me that To-Do lists, or long- and medium-term goal setting, are generally more harmful than helpful. When the goal or task is accomplished, there is a mild rush of excitement that is quickly replaced by anxiety to achieve the next item on the list; when one fails the effects are disastrous and often haunting. They also tend to conform to social expectations rather than things the individual would truly enjoy doing.

Too often I see people my age (college-aged) freaking out about meeting the goals that are expected of them: "Oh my god I need to get this internship so I can get a job when I graduate and get married and have kids and get an MBA and get another job and retire and wonder if it all was fucking worth it as I die."

It's just so stupid to me. You'll never enjoy yourself if you worry about meeting the measure of your ideal life, and having some rigid progression to your future limits human spontaneity and creativity, which I believe was your main point. "Fret not for the morrow," as J.C. would say.

 

[QuickTwist]

I think you both are right. Setting goals in and of itself should not be the thing that motivates us but rather be a tool to get things done (do as I say not as I do). I believe everyone, regardless of if they are a sparatic nut job or not should have goals in mind that they think would be helpful to their overall wellbeing but at the same time they must also have a way to adapt to new situations so that they do not become rigid as would be an example of the extreme planner who tries to plan for everything but inevitably fails because you cannot see all outcomes all the time. I would further like to point out that being flexible relative to your personality can go a long way to, in fact, help you reach your goals however lofty or trivial they might be. So all in all we must both be prepared to, at the very least, think about what we want to do, but this is not meant to say that we must plan every minute of our day and contrasting to this idea, live so impulsively that we cannot know the possible course of action that follows.

 

[Affinity]

Myself, I really like to-do lists. I have a short term as well as a long term list. For me, it's more of a reminder that hey, I can live in my head all I want but there's mundane tasks that needs to be taken care of as well as helping me to remember those long term goals so I can keep somewhat in line with the trajectory set forth.

 

[The Introvert]

I think I agree with you, but for different reasons.

It seems to me that To-Do lists, or long- and medium-term goal setting, are generally more harmful than helpful. When the goal or task is accomplished, there is a mild rush of excitement that is quickly replaced by anxiety to achieve the next item on the list; when one fails the effects are disastrous and often haunting. They also tend to conform to social expectations rather than things the individual would truly enjoy doing.

I have opposite experiences. When I complete an item on a to-do list, I become content and leave it at that. I don't usually feel the need to start working on something else at that moment.

Too often I see people my age (college-aged) freaking out about meeting the goals that are expected of them: "Oh my god I need to get this internship so I can get a job when I graduate and get married and have kids and get an MBA and get another job and retire and wonder if it all was fucking worth it as I die."
It's just so stupid to me. You'll never enjoy yourself if you worry about meeting the measure of your ideal life, and having some rigid progression to your future limits human spontaneity and creativity, which I believe was your main point. "Fret not for the morrow," as J.C. would say.

Beautifully put. Which gets to the point of the OP: if you set boundaries on your existence, you'll either achieve them and become apathetic, or not achieve them and become worrisome/ upset.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Ideas tend to follow the same flows as source/sink dynamics in population ecology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source–sink_dynamics

complete with traps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_traps

God knows I'm a case study...

 

[Montresor]

<-- frequently wayward, impulsive, irresponsible, and capricious.

 

[The Introvert]

Ideas tend to follow the same flows as source/sink dynamics in population ecology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source–sink_dynamics

complete with traps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_traps

God knows I'm a case study...

" If either the habitat quality or the cue changes so that one does not reliably indicate the other, organisms may be lured into poor quality habitat."

Interesting how similar comparisons can be drawn to humans and consciousness (ie: perception may differ from reality). It's funny because I was just talking to someone about that last week, and he claimed that it's a phenomenon incapable of being explained through naturalism.

But ideas, it's so strange. Right now I'm bouncing off the walls (and I mean that literally) with energy. I haven't felt energetic before noon since I can remember, and I feel like my brain is finally working for the first time in ages.

But, in reference to OP (kind of) doesn't this sound like the wavelength theory? Troughs and peaks, highs and lows. Everything from ecological events to consciousness can be applied to the same framework and make sense.

 

[The Introvert]

<-- frequently wayward, impulsive, irresponsible, and capricious.

Lucky...

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

But, in reference to OP (kind of) doesn't this sound like the wavelength theory? Troughs and peaks, highs and lows. Everything from ecological events to consciousness can be applied to the same framework and make sense.

Yes, if you add "motion and stickiness."

"But that is not all. No, that is not all."

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

To-do lists huh... I'll put it on my to-do list.

 

[Montresor]

Lucky...

Do not covet, young introvert, until you know for sure what it is you are coveting.

Hard fought freedom comes at the price of status. Hard fought status comes at the price of freedom.

They are convergent, however, and this is one of the things I mean by "left hand path". Though I believe that eventually the lines of status and freedom do cross; it's really all about how you get there.

 

[The Introvert]

Do not covet, young introvert, until you know for sure what it is you are coveting.

Hard fought freedom comes at the price of status. Hard fought status comes at the price of freedom.

They are convergent, however, and this is one of the things I mean by "left hand path". Though I believe that eventually the lines of status and freedom do cross; it's really all about how you get there.

I'll get there on my own terms.

 

[walfin]

I was told about the concept of a "Bucket List" before. I felt it was not an INTP thing (more likely an SP thing, for whom having experiences is the goal).

 

[scorpiomover]

I use To-Do lists a lot. I never used to, and forgot all the things I had to do. This way, I know what I have to do. Even if I don't get everything one, which is often, I can always ensure to do the stuff that I can't afford to let slide.

 

[The Introvert]

I was told about the concept of a "Bucket List" before. I felt it was not an INTP thing (more likely an SP thing, for whom having experiences is the goal).

I like the concept of a bucket list. I would prefer to play life and experiences by ear, but there's nothing wrong with planning a trip to do something you've always wanted to do either.

 

[The Introvert]

I use To-Do lists a lot. I never used to, and forgot all the things I had to do. This way, I know what I have to do. Even if I don't get everything one, which is often, I can always ensure to do the stuff that I can't afford to let slide.

As long as you're content, I have no qualms. Unfortunately, I tend to be discontent with 'just getting by' (even though I tend to do it anyway) and thus, to-do lists seem to be the bane of my existence.

 

[thekatspajamas]

Wait, what? I have the memory of a goldfish, so a to-do list is essential for me. Else I'd always be forgetting crap and my electric would end up getting shut off or something. Planning things works SO much better-- it's much easier to find the most efficient method when you research it and plan ahead.
For instance, I have a list of several hundred activities to do with my daughter, which are linked to dozens of resources with more ideas stored in them. This list allows me to pick a pre-selected activity that 1) has developmental benefits and 2) is bad ass/freaking fun. Like tomorrow, we're going to the Earth Day festival in town. If I didn't put that on my to do list/calendar, I would have totally forgotten about it, but instead I had an alarm go off today to remind me. I would be so screwed and disorganized if I didn't have a list.

 

[The Introvert]

Wait, what? I have the memory of a goldfish, so a to-do list is essential for me. Else I'd also be forgetting crap and my electric would end up getting shut off or something. Planning things works SO much better-- it's much easier to find the most efficient method when you research it and plan ahead.
For instance, I have a list of several hundred activities to do with my daughter, which are linked to dozens of resources with more ideas stored in them. This list allows me to pick a pre-selected activity that 1) has developmental benefits and 2) is bad ass/freaking fun. Like tomorrow, we're going to the Earth Day festival in town. If I didn't put that on my to do list/calendar, I would have totally forgotten about it, but instead I had an alarm go off today to remind me. I would be so screwed and disorganized if I didn't have a list.

I seem to be the minority here...

I will say, however, that the post was intended for an audience that is still looking for adventure. With a daughter/ family, you have much more responsibility than, say, a college kid

 

[Brontosaurie]

it's like wearing a diaper

i am my own actions

 

[Montresor]

I used to make lists of "goals", short term and long term and post them on my wall.

It was altogether strange and unnatural and I stopped, because all I had really done was document the slow decline in my state of affairs.

 

[The Introvert]

I used to make lists of "goals", short term and long term and post them on my wall.

It was altogether strange and unnatural and I stopped, because all I had really done was document the slow decline in my state of affairs.

This is similar to my personal experience.

 

[thekatspajamas]

I seem to be the minority here...

I will say, however, that the post was intended for an audience that is still looking for adventure. With a daughter/ family, you have much more responsibility than, say, a college kid

Ah, okay. I rarely kept a to do list in college lol. Then, it was more like pay rent, eat, rinse and repeat. Pretty easy to keep track of. With all of the strings of being an adult (and especially running a household for my husband and my daughter), I just can't get everything done without a list. It's overwhelming!

 

[Montresor]

Typical day:

[x] Wake-up
[x] Shower
[ ] Eat
[ ] Pay bills
[ ] Care for pets
[ ] Appreciate girlfriend
[ ] Eat
[x] Porn
[ ] Work
[ ] Laundry
[ ] Clean Bathroom
[ ] Clean Kitchen
[ ] Go outside
[x] smoke bong

 

[scorpiomover]

As long as you're content, I have no qualms. Unfortunately, I tend to be discontent with 'just getting by' (even though I tend to do it anyway)

You think I'm content with getting by? You ought to read my To-Do lists. The only reason that I am content with "getting by", is because I'm constantly working on myself to improve and do more, and have been doing so for almost all of my life, and very focussedly so during the last 7-8 years.

and thus, to-do lists seem to be the bane of my existence.

You misunderstand. You think to-do lists are some kind of disadvantage? Dude, you ought to see my life before I started using them, and after. I'd recommend them to EVERYONE. I would recommend you try them for at least a month. That's how much I believe they work. I doubt there is anyone on the planet, whose life would not receive a regular consistent major benefit to their lives, from making a daily To-Do list.

 

[The Introvert]

You think I'm content with getting by? You ought to read my To-Do lists. The only reason that I am content with "getting by", is because I'm constantly working on myself to improve and do more, and have been doing so for almost all of my life, and very focussedly so during the last 7-8 years.

You misunderstand. You think to-do lists are some kind of disadvantage? Dude, you ought to see my life before I started using them, and after. I'd recommend them to EVERYONE. I would recommend you try them for at least a month. That's how much I believe they work. I doubt there is anyone on the planet, whose life would not receive a regular consistent major benefit to their lives, from making a daily To-Do list.

I use to-do lists. They're just for things that I would otherwise forget to do (that I need to do), however.

OP was referring to exploring your interests and not setting boundaries on yourself, which is what to-do lists tend to do (if you're focus in life is solely to do things you need to do). I like doing things I WANT to do, though.