Lists, Lists, And More Lists

A few days ago in class, we talked about making lists, and why so many people do it. People were sharing stories from when they were little, like in the Great Gatsby, of lists their parents would make them, lists they made for themselves, etc. I tried to think to myself the last list i had made, and realized i actually did make quite a few. It gives us a feeling of completeness and satisfaction, which is something Americans value. Later that night when I got home, I was packing for a trip, and made a list to make sure i had everything i needed for the weekend. It wasn't until about halfway through making my list that i realized what i was doing, and how often i make check lists of things to do.

There was an article on NPR a few years ago, and it was 10 Reasons Why We Love Making Lists and what it said, which i agree with, is that it helps keep us organized and create as little chaos as possible. Personally, during finals time, i make a list of what im going to study at what time, and it helps me calm down and not stress out as much about whether i have time to study for everything. Being on a timed schedule like that, also helps prevent procrastination, which is something i do a bit too often.Completing a list is something that makes us feel accomplished and finished, and its something we value, rather than having a bunch of stuff to do and never feeling like you complete any of it. Overall, I think list making is something Americans in particular use as a tactic to stay organized and "give ourselves a pat on the back" when we accomplish something.