Surviving a day as me

[azurelunatic]

It was a toss-up whether to use this icon or the St. John's Wort icon, but I went with this one.

My depression bites me in the ass frequently enough, and my base level of distractibility is high enough, that I often require checklists to keep myself either doing normal tasks in a reasonable length of time, or simply just to take basic care of myself like a normal human being. I use Hiveminder for my to-do lists most of the time, and all of these items are set to repeat regularly (most daily, some less frequently based on how things actually are). I mentioned this in IRC and there was interest in actually seeing this, so!

These are three of the lists that I use. Some items appear on more than one list. Some of these things are totally autopilot things, but having them on the list so that I can check them off resolves a good deal of my anxiety about "wait, did I forget to -- !!!" that often accompanies absolutely anything that's out of standard routine, especially something that involves me walking out my door.



Dayfacing:

This list is for the moment I get up.

• ATTITUDE CHECK [dayfacing health] - http://www.moodscope.com/date_checker.php (the concept here is good, but the implementation is flawed enough to give me rageface regularly
• face? [dayfacing grooming launchpad]
• pocket stuff in pocket (lipbalm/pen) [dayfacing launchpad]
• got bags? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Phone need reboot? [dayfacing launchpad]
• got lunch (packed)? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Are we wearing perfume? [dayfacing grooming self-care] - (BPAL, or perfume of the moment)
• Are we dressed? [dayfacing grooming launchpad self-care]
• teeth [dayfacing grooming health]
• plan dinner? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Hankies/washcloths? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Are we wearing socks/shoes? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Where are we going? Address/map/foursquare? [dayfacing launchpad]
• deodorant [bedtime dayfacing grooming launchpad]
• sunscreen [dayfacing grooming health]
• rebraid hair [daily dayfacing grooming]
• Turn on fireplace [dayfacing]
• Is mailbox on fire? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Are we wearing enough lip balm? [dayfacing grooming self-care]
• Turn on music [dayfacing self-care]
• Are we signed in to IRC? [dayfacing social]
• bathroom [dayfacing health]
• pills [dayfacing health]
• wash face [dayfacing grooming health launchpad]
• wash glasses [dayfacing launchpad]
• got breakfast? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• water bottle [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Caffeinated? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Allergy meds? [dayfacing health]

Launchpad:

This list is to make sure that I don't forget anything before leaving somewhere. A number of these items are pretty flexible, because too specific and it doesn't work with a repeating list, and too general and I'll panic.

• pick up my desk [household launchpad]
• Jacket? Purse? Phone/keys/cane? [launchpad]
• book [launchpad]
• Do we need scarf/umbrella/jacket/sunscreen? [launchpad]
• Craft (crocheting? sketch?) [launchpad]
• beverages? [launchpad]
• face? [dayfacing grooming launchpad]
• Do we need to repair our appearance once there? (hairbrush/makeup) [grooming launchpad]
• start dishes? [launchpad]
• hair presentable? [grooming launchpad]
• put away the internet [bedtime launchpad]
• pocket stuff in pocket (lipbalm/pen) [dayfacing launchpad]
• got bags? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Phone need reboot? [dayfacing launchpad]
• got lunch (packed)? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Are we dressed? [dayfacing grooming launchpad self-care]
• plan dinner? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Do we need pretty accessories? [launchpad]
• Hankies/washcloths? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Are we wearing socks/shoes? [dayfacing launchpad]
• Where are we going? Address/map/foursquare? [dayfacing launchpad]
• medical kit/zippy in bag [launchpad]
• snack zippy in bag [launchpad]
• makeup zippy in bag [launchpad]
• laptop in bag [launchpad]
• got headset? [launchpad]
• no food left out [bedtime launchpad]
• Got transit fare/card? [launchpad]
• deodorant [bedtime dayfacing grooming launchpad]
• event-specific items packed? [launchpad]
• Is mailbox on fire? [dayfacing launchpad]
• wash face [dayfacing grooming health launchpad]
• wash glasses [dayfacing launchpad]
• got breakfast? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• water bottle [dayfacing health launchpad]
• Caffeinated? [dayfacing health launchpad]
• start laundry [launchpad]

Bedtime:

Some of these things are on multiple lists, and that means that if I get them done before bedtime, great, but if I haven't done them at all, that I need to do them or check that they're done before I actually crash out.

• PCOS haircare [bedtime grooming]
• Charge headset (disconnect first) [bedtime]
• waterbottle [bedtime]
• pajamas [bedtime]
• prep for next morning? [bedtime]
• all dishes off desk [bedtime]
• detangle hair [bedtime grooming]
• put away the internet [bedtime launchpad]
• Have we showered? [bedtime grooming self-care]
• charge emergency solar panel [bedtime]
• We are taking our St. John's Wort regularly, right? [bedtime health]
• no food left out [bedtime launchpad]
• deodorant [bedtime dayfacing grooming launchpad]
• Brush teeth [bedtime]
• bedtime pills [bedtime]
• glasses off [bedtime]

Comments

[automaticdoor]

I am adapting this. Also, I signed up for Moodscope. I've been trying various methods to track my moods for almost 5 years now and nothing's worked, so I might as well give this a go because it's quite different than anything else I've tried. I like the concept of daily email reminders.

[azurelunatic]

Best luck!