Thursday 5 July 2012

Imposing order

Patterns from nature at Kew

When it feels as though life is starting to spiral out of control, and everything is choatic and stressful, I take pleasure in ordered things.

Patterns from nature at Kew

At Kew Gardens on Monday I saw order and patterns everywhere I went.

Patterns from nature at Kew

Patterns from nature at Kew

Patterns from nature at Kew

Patterns from nature at Kew

The other thing that I like at times like this, is having nice stationery and using it to write lists on.  After I'd cleared my head with a long walk and a long chat, around Kew, I came home and wrote absolutely everything I could think of on a list.

The daily 'to do' lists start with a collection of bossy verbs at the moment.  I must pay, wash, check, phone, collect, speak, email and change all kinds of things.  Writing them down, and crossing them off, takes away their power to overwhelm.  All I must do is work my way down the list each day.

To-do list - an assortment of verbs

There are also lists of things which are overwhelming in different ways, but which I must accept:
  • lists of issues which cannot be resolved yet, and so I must not fret about,
  • lists of good things coming up in the school holidays, which I should look forward to
  • lists of things I might sew when I have some more time,
  • lists of possible solutions to potential problems.

These too seem much more manageable when I write them down.  For these stress lists I have some new sticky notes, which cheer me up just looking at them.

New sticky notes

New sticky notes

I bought them in Paperchase, and I'm using them to impose order on my life.  The house is bristling with them at the moment.

9 comments:

  1. I need to write a list.

    I shall put that on the list, then.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, the power of a good list. I am welded to the diary at the moment, scribbling all the random 'must dos' down. Love your post its.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely ordered Kew pics.....and I ADORE those post-its (so much so that I've just been on the phone to Paperchase pleading with them to send some to Cornwall, as they're not on their website. They were very obliging).

    I do love a good list. It's just as Sue says, it calms the mind.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your new post it notes. I like to do lists however if I spent less time writing them I might actually get somethings done lol. Hope you are all well and things are ok- concerned by a couple of your comments :-( - take care xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh the power of a list written in good stationary. That looks very like a moleskine diary, something I have just discovered. Love those post its

    ReplyDelete
  6. gorgeous pics! and the post its. oh my. I hope the lists are working calming magic.
    get a post it right now and write "eat chocolate" on it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love lists too, reading others, making my own, and thats what attracted me to your blog - the title! lol... I am overwhelmed at the mo with stuff to do and like you find writing them down takes the punch out of them and forgetting to do stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I hope you're progressing nicely through the list - very neatly written, which all helps!Great little sticky notes, too! Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete

Even though I often do not have the time to reply to everybody, I really appreciate all your comments so much - thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts on what I've written.