18 Jul

Neurotic, or Just Organized?

Posted by Amanda under Buying a House, Moving

A couple of days ago I decided that I could no longer take the thoughts of everything I needed to complete running through my head. I was getting overwhelmed with everything that has to be done before we can move out, so I did what I always do in these situations.

I made a list.

I plopped myself down at our kitchen table and jotted down every single thing I could think of that needed to be completed before we’re ready to move. Then, I organized the list into days, and stuck it to the fridge right next to our calendar.

Let’s zoom in on the calendar really fast and see if there’s anything important happening today…

What’s that say on July 18th? CLOSING! That’s right – today is the day that Corey and I will finally get the keys to our new house placed in our hot little hands, and we can’t wait!

But, back to the topic at hand. I’ll talk about closing in detail later this week!

As soon as I finished writing the list, I could feel the stress melting off of me. I was officially organized, and I would know what needed to be taken care of on any given day.

Here’s what this week’s to-do list looks like.

And here’s next week:

It is such an exhilarating feeling to look at a list of things I need to do next week and see the word “move” included. LOVE IT.

But, I have to admit, I felt like maybe I was being a bit neurotic by creating this list. I mean, in reality, these are all things I’m probably going to remember to do – I strongly doubt I’ll forget to pack our bedroom decorations or something. But to see it all laid out like this really made me feel like I could handle it and like I had a plan of attack to get everything accomplished.

Which brings me to the point of this post – am I crazy, or just organized? Are you a list-maker too, or do you prefer to just wing it?

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21 Comments »

Comments on this post

  1. @kreatedbykristie from twitter :) says:

    I hope the closing goes smoothly today! My fingers are crossed for you & Corey! It’s such an exhilirating feeling when they place those keys in your hands. We bought our first house almost 2 years ago :)

    LOL on the lists! I am such a list maker!! I did it before we moved and for several months after we moved since we had to do extensive renovations. Like you it’s stuff I knew I wouldn’t forget to do, but you feel more of a sense of accomplishment when you can cross those items off the list.

    Good luck!!

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    1. @kreatedbykristie from twitter :) says:

      P.S. I love your handwriting! So nice & neat!!

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      1. Amanda says:

        I make lists for EVERYTHING!!! In fact, we are having a potluck this weekend. Not too many people, 20 max, and I’ve made a list of everything I need to get done before that. Broken down into categories and printed. I’m big on lists.

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        1. Sarah says:

          I LOVE the lists…so organized! Plus it will be such a sense of accomplishment went you cross stuff off the list!

          Congrats in closing day…so happy for you!! :)

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          1. Abby says:

            Hello, list-twin! :) I do the exact same thing when I have any type of big event coming up – even when we’re having a big group of people over for a party! I doubt I’d forget things, too, but something about writing it down and planning out when to do it makes me feel like it’s much more doable. Good luck with closing today!

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            1. Allie says:

              I’d also much rather create a list than try to remember — even if it’s stuff I WOULD remember. Just putting it on paper means less chaos in my head!

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              1. Erin says:

                I love your lists. I’m an avid planner – heck, I plan to plan. My sister taught me something interesting called “backwards planning.” Start with your goal and when you want to be done and then plan based off of that. It seems so common sense but can make a big difference in the way your brain maps out projects.

                Keep making lists!

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                1. Jessica says:

                  I love your lists! Such a smart idea, I’ll have to remember this if/when we ever move.

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                  1. Mandy says:

                    With our Spain move, I made a billion lists as well & I’m sure more will be upcoming. I think there is just a satisfying feeling when you see EVERYTHING you have to do laid out neatly–it makes crossing the list off even more satisfying!

                    Congrats on closing on the house, and good luck cleaning! Ugh, sounds like a nightmare to do all of that, but it’ll be worth it in the end!

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                    1. Kelly says:

                      I am also a list-lover! There is just something so satisfying and relaxing about it. Mine usually aren’t as neat as yours though– you have great handwriting. congrats on closing!

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                      1. Heather says:

                        I love writing lists because when I have too many to-dos in my head (even the obvious ones, like ‘pack decorations’ and ‘pack up bookcases’) I feel like my brain isn’t big enough to hold them all in.
                        In the week leading up to the wedding, I covered our office door in paper so we had a giant list!

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                        1. Morgan says:

                          Totally NOT neurotic, it’s organization at it’s best. And yes, you might have remembered to do all of these without the list, but I bet you’ll be a lot more efficient and save a lot of time by having a plan in place like this!

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                          1. Sandi says:

                            Happy, happy, happy for you. Make an extra key to frame as a momento.

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                            1. Lauren says:

                              I love making lists! I think it’s a great way to get it all down and hopefully not forget anything.

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                              1. Scraps says:

                                I vote organized! I’ve been using the 5-thing To-do list theory for a while and it’s helps me be so much more productive each day (even weekends!). For bigger projects I’ve been known to break a large task into measurable blocks just so I can check off bits as I go.

                                Congrats on the closing, today!

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                                1. Katie says:

                                  I am also all for list making, even for mundane things. In fact I keep a notebook full of nothing but lists. It’s cathartic, I think. Hope you’re better at crossing things off than I am!

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                                  1. Steph says:

                                    Listing is good! I do this for almost everything in my life.. and fiancé? The man is NEVER without some multiple page list. It really does make you feel accomplished even before starting!

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                                    1. Melissa says:

                                      I love lists, best way to stay organized.

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                                      1. Natalie says:

                                        Yooouuuu are awesome and I love this. I’ve been meaning to make some lists of my own-maybe this will be my inspiration. I’m so excited for you guys to be in your first house here in ATX! Yay!

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                                        1. NYCitified says:

                                          That is amazing, I’m so impressed. Please, teach me sensei, I’m jealous of your organizing skills!

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                                          1. Lauren says:

                                            I am a list maker, too. Not because I necessarily need it to remember what I need to do (even though sometimes I do), but because I like the feeling of marking through something when I am done. It helps me feel accomplished!

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