# Mental 3 item To Do List **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955 "2013-12-22T16:16:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955/1 "2013-12-22T16:16:13Z")
I pretty much always have a 3 item To Do list worked out in my mind. For example, as soon as I log off here, I am going to: 1) go for a walk 2) collect the trash and put it out for collection 3) bake a batch of cookies If I happen to think of “what to do” before I’ve finished that list, say, after I get the trash to the curb, I will automatically update the list to three items. Likely: 1) bake a batch of cookies 2) put a load of laundry in 3) pay the bills Mind, I don’t _plan_ to have my next three actions plotted out, it just … happens. Three items, no more, no less. Not that the items are always ‘work’. “Watch Survivor” and “Get a snack” and “call Mom” are fine items for the list. And the list can get edited if circumstances call for it. Like if I spill something on the floor while baking that second list will get a new item 2 (clean floor) with the laundry bumped to 3 and the bills shoved off. (My brother called this a pop list – something computer programmy I think.) So – does anyone else do this? Or something similar? (I’m just wondering exactly how weird I am for doing this.) ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955/2 "2013-12-22T17:05:26Z")
Gosh, seems A-OK to me, but maybe Im [one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_personality_disorder)too. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955/3 "2013-12-22T17:10:21Z")
You lost me at mental. Since it now takes me and my husband both to make half a brain, I write everything down. Everything. If not it gets lost in the netherworld. ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955/4 "2013-12-23T00:03:55Z")
I think a 3-item to-do list is a great idea. I try to do it whenever I am feeling good enough mentally. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955/5 "2013-12-23T18:19:28Z")
I would suggest a 2a for your first list - wash hands. Or a 3a - throw out cookies. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-3-item-to-do-list/676955/6 "2013-12-23T22:50:40Z")
So, it looks like my answer is, Very Weird indeed. Oh, well. Just another sign of my alien blood.