“WordPress 3.1.3 is available! Please update now.” Sure. I’ll do that–right after I’m done pruning the the shrubbery. Sometimes life seems like a simple cycle of never-ending maintenance, from software updates to landscape care, from painting the woodwork to replacing the tires on the car, from pet visits to the vet for rabies shots to changing out the gear oil on the rototiller. And of course there’s nothing more in your face demanding than computer maintenance and the associated nagging that comes with software upgrades.

Things to do today:

Sometimes it seems absurd to make the list. I could be adding salt to the water softener and I’m making a list instead? I have a flock of goldfinches impatiently tapping their feet while they wait for thistle seed in the feeders and I’m making a list? Should I put the trip to the library to return the overdue books on the list, or just return the darn things?

If you have a list you can prioritize. If you have a list you can take pleasure in crossing stuff out. On the other hand, if you decide to work from a list you could all too easily spiral down into the infinite loop of deconstruction of tasks. “Paint the porch” becomes

• get cleaning agent
• clean the rails
• clean the deck
• get brushes
• get roller
• get paint
• get thinner
• get step-ladder
• …

Does getting the paint require a trip to the store? Add it to the list! Does cleaning the deck require a mop and broom? Don’t forget to add them to the list!

A while back the cool kids were talking about “getting things done.” (This was, I believe, a reaction to excessive amounts Adderall in their diet, but I could be wrong.) One enterprising fellow, David Allen, staked out a claim as self-help productivity guru and actually trademarked the phrase.

…add to “things that me smile” list: Jessica Hagy’s blog, “Indexed.”