A true story. One afternoon when the kids ran to a friend's
house to play, I sat down on the couch to relax and I was so
tired that I actually fell asleep. A short while later the
phone rang. It was an important message for my husband. I
thanked the caller, hung up the phone and somehow drifted off
to sleep for a few more minutes. Then the kids ran back in
and I got off the couch and resumed my daily activity. The
phone call was completely forgotten.
That night my husband told me that he had misplaced his bank
card and some other important papers and asked me to keep my
eye out for them. Of course, I never found them because, as
you might be able to guess by now, the caller on the phone
had found them and because I didn't write down the message, I
forgot to tell my husband. He was forced to cancel the bank
card. Only afterwards did the kind person intent on returning
lost property call us back a second time to ask why we hadn't
picked up the lost items.
Have you ever forgotten to tell over an urgent message? Lost
an important number? Forgotten to purchase a key ingredient
for dinner at the grocery store?
Many people don't write things down because it seems like a
hassle. They are sure that they will remember to buy a pack
of film for their camera or a box of lasagna noodles for
dinner. But many things can and often do happen on the way to
the store, or in it. They run into an old friend, or a fellow
shopper asks them a question. Before they know it, one of the
important items they need to purchase is forgotten.
Or the opposite happens at the store. Some women buy too
much. Without a shopping list, they buy on impulse and come
home with an expensive item they could have purchased cheaper
elsewhere, or with items they may never use.
As a matter of fact, one enterprising woman thought she had a
brilliant solution to this problem and she decided to start
her own small business. The main product? Laminated, reusable
grocery lists! She was sure they would be a best seller at
stores. However, she was quite surprised and even unprepared
for the cold reception she received when she attempted to
sell her lists to supermarkets. Several supermarket
representatives told her they had no interest in selling
something that would help customers shop in an organized,
efficient manner! An organized list would help the customer
spend less time in the store and would discourage impulse
buying, which, of course, defeats the goal of supermarket
managers who want consumers to spend as much money as
possible. The location of items, height of displays and
arrangement are all designed to make people want to buy. It
is a very sophisticated marketing system. Ultimately, a
grocery list helps supermarket shoppers save time, money and
aggravation. Live and learn. The entrepreneur above decided
to sell her grocery lists via mail order.
In addition to grocery lists, there are many other types of
lists that can help women become more organized and reduce
stress levels. How about a list of items loaned out or
borrowed from neighbors and friends? What do you think about
working from a written list of things that must get done on
erev Shabbos? Ever see a "library chart" to mark down
the names of books and the dates they are due for children or
adults, borrowed from school or private libraries? How about
a "frequent phone number chart", so that instead of flipping
through phone books for often needed numbers, they will be
listed neatly? Have you tried a special "evening routine"
chart for children which lists all the things they must do or
check before going to bed? Then there are special occasion
lists for Yom Tov which help ease the pressure.
It isn't a failing to write things down. There is an
unconfirmed story that Albert Einstein didn't know his own
home phone number but kept it written on a slip of paper in
his back pocket. When asked why, he responded something like,
"I have better things to remember. Why waste brain space on a
number?"
Some women aren't sure where to keep their lists and charts.
Basically, they can be kept wherever one will look at them:
kitchen cabinet, hall door, closet door, over a desk, on a
mirror, in a purse, in a notebook, and of course, the
housewives' favorite -- with a magnet on the fridge door.
One neighbor confided in me that she is great at making lists
but she often forgets to look at them. This obviously defeats
the purpose. One solution to this problem would be to link
the new habit of looking at her lists with something she does
on a daily basis, such as before eating breakfast or before
making lunch. Then her regular daily habit `triggers' the
alert to check her lists. Another solution might be to have
an alarm clock go off every day at the same time as a list
checking reminder.
And finally, to put in a word about my favorite chart, the
"Family Assignment Chart" which records everyone's chores for
that week. It's about time to teach the kids to use written
reminders, too!
For those who may be interested, after being approached by
a professional consultant, I have created over 40 lists and
charts and put them on a CD ROM along with more than 50
household organization articles for use by household
organizers. Women who do not teach organization will surely
find this all- inclusive CD ROM extremely helpful as well. It
can be ordered: nberg@mail.com or fax: 03-725-5953.
