Praises for the "To Do List"

I am obsessed with making lists.  In  my kitchen I have an oversized white board, a corresponding cork board and now a matching erasable calendar.  Each are covered with lists of what needs to be done and when and sometimes how.

Throughout my career I prided myself on the ability to multi-task and on my exceptional organizational skills.  All due to the glorious To Do List.  I even have such lists for my husband and son, although they apparently do not get the joy and fulfilled that I get from crossing something off that list.

Yesterday i started to think my old friend the To Do List is becoming a crutch. I started spinning out of control with everything that needs to be done and how little time is available.  Ever time I started a task, I was distracted with another and frankly nothing was being accomplished.  So I went to my trusty white board, chose a task and finished it!  Oh the joy of crossing off an action item.

Now however I am concerned that the list is controlling me.  I am starting to believe that I am no longer able to think without a list created telling me what I am supposed to be thinking about.  Is this a huge crutch that now prevents me from being spontaneous?  And how about the severe depression experienced when I am unable to cross anything off the list?

Oh I know, I will create a list on how to ease myself off the list and learn again how to live in the moment.