I love a list! They give me that sense of accomplishment and organize my day. When I was teaching, I used them all the time to keep track of the vast number of things I needed to do in a day. As I try to make decisions about my next steps after retiring, I often find myself thinking about a situation without making any progress: ruminating. This is where lists have come to the rescue.
Decision-Making Ruminating.
I’m investigating a variety of possibilities for my future. The next year is shaping up to be exciting with lots of new experiences and learning (more on that in another post). With decisions, comes cyclical thinking or ruminating. I find myself spinning on one idea for the entire day. I can’t get the thoughts out of my head.
Thoughts That Move In
Ruminating can make matters worse because the longer we think about something the more strength those thoughts have in our mind.* They start setting up house in there.
Progress And Peace Of Mind
I discovered that if I make a list about the direction I’m considering, it’s enough of a positive movement forward to stop me ruminating. Now I have a concrete list of things to do to investigate this direction. The ideas are out of my head, and onto a list. My mind can relax. There is a positive path forward as I check off each item and resolve some of the worries that had me spinning. This is the power of the humble list.
Deciding Between Two Options?
When trying to decide between two options, you can’t fault the trusty pros and cons list:
“Lists can help with decision-making. Listing the reasons for and the reasons against a particular option allows us to perceive the decision all at once, without having to keep in mind the entire jumble of reasons. Even with more sophisticated approaches, the most effective aid for complex decisions is still two lists: pros and cons.”**
**https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/defining-memories/202105/10-benefits-making-lists
Retired, And Now What? 