Confessions of a C-Lister

A close friend of my husband’s, from his college days, visited us recently. We shared wonderful conversations with him covering a range of subjects music, books, philosophy, yoga, bringing up children. And then we discovered one more shared interest – checklists!

When I first came across Atul Gawande’s bestseller “The Checklist Manifesto” I couldn’t believe it. Here’s a book that elevated my quirky habit to almost a science. There’s a downside to reading the book though. I am now terribly nervous of visiting hospitals, flying on airplanes and living in high rise apartments.
Do doctors, pilots, builders get things right?  Are they using checklists?

I cannot remember when exactly I became a compulsive ‘Check-Lister’. A few days back I found my diary from over 30 years ago that had short to-do lists. On one page at the top I had noted:
1. Phone Mrs G SIngh 2. Confirm jeep 3. Check eats.
At the lower end of the same page: 1. buy unsalted butter 2. Learn how to make cake from M. Who was M? Back then, as a young naval wife, I used to be involved in sailors’ welfare.  I also attended ladies’ coffee mornings and tried to upgrade my nascent culinary skills. The lists in the diary perhaps related to these duties. 

Curious to find out more about checklists I browsed the internet. I came across some definitions, a few personal blogs that were mostly about the benefits of using checklists or how to make them effective. Or there were promotional blogs about software and Apps for e-checklists.

Yes check lists help you get efficient. I get that. But why are checklists made out to be so trite, just functional? What about the excitement of creating one and then ticking items off? “The human animal differs from the lesser primates in his passion for lists.” Humorist Allen Smith was spot on about that in my view.   

My penchant for checklists has grown with my life situations. As I progressed through motherhood, work, family, I became more skilled at making my checklists precise and fit for purpose.

I made separate lists for managing my home, my office work. These were in addition to the more mundane grocery list or the shopping-for-odds lists.  Then there were distinct travel lists: work travel, holiday travel, weekend trips. As life got more complex my checklists grew more nuanced. I built in categories and sub-lists. For example I developed a whole children’s series: For children while at home, children at school, children on weekends, special occasions etc.

At work I was responsible for evaluating impact of our field programmes in a dozen countries. In practice a big part of my job was to create - you got it – checklists! Together with my team I got down to it with gusto.  We designed protocols, data content and process templates. Then we broke them down into simple checklists that were used by staff in far away countries. I loved my job!  

When our children had flown the nest I got busy with my elderly mother’s care. As her care needs grew so did my checklists for her. Lists for her medicines, diet, questions to ask her doctor, daily activities, songs playlists………. The checklists not only helped manage her care, they also proved to be effective stress busters for me.

Then came the weddings. Our two children had their weddings within a week of each other. In the run up to the happy occasions my husband (an ardent Check-Lister too) and I outdid each other choreographing checklists. Two sets of guest lists, menu lists, airport/station pick up lists, events lists, shopping lists, contact lists …….you name it and we had a list. 

The last year and a half have been quieter. I no longer work full time and have moved forward from responsibilities of growing children and elder care. So I haven’t had to make too many checklists.

But things are looking up suddenly. We are planning to move house soon and it’s back to listing! Right now we are creating lists for winding up, packing, moving, setting up our new place and everything in between.  My enthusiasm for checklists hasn’t diminished in the least.

I am delighted to confess - I remain an unabashed C-Lister!