Barb Natividad’s 1-2-3 Plan for Functioning
i love making lists. even more than that, i love crossing things off my list. however, there are times when my list is so long that i feel overwhelmed and end up doing absolutely nothing. the list continues to grow, and i continue to be overwhelmed, and by that point, i’m probably hypomanic. or depressed. or anxiety-ridden. i become immobile, i withdraw, i do nothing. at its worst, i even ignore phone calls from my family.
so i pick 3 things from that list and do those first in the order that i choose or that makes sense. i don’t worry about items 4 - 200, just 1 - 3. and then the next of set 3. and so on. when i’m functioning normally–that is, when i’m successfully stabilized by meds–those things might be: 1) pick up prescriptions; 2) buy cat food; 3) return a video. when i’m depressed and/or anxiety-ridden, they might be: 1) take a shower; 2) feed the cats; 3) eat breakfast. in the former list, the latter is a given. i can skip making a plan for those steps because they’re routine.
Brian knows that in order for me to function, i have to have a 1-2-3 Plan. as soon as we woke up this past Sunday, he suggested this: 1) throw on clothes; 2) feed the cats; 3) go to brunch, which is a very good plan for depression/anxiety–just get out of the house. i was nowhere near that far. the plan i had in mind was: 1) blow my nose; 2) use my nose spray; 3) take my meds, all of which are normally routine steps for 1) throw on clothes.
not good.
Bipolar/Anxiety/BPD
I don’t use them all the time, but when things get too overwhelming, I have found that lists are the only way to get organized and feel like I’m accomplishing anything…
March 22, 2006 8:51 pm
hehehe, i can’t tell you how many friggin’ lists i have that will never be completed
March 22, 2006 9:16 pm
I think brunch should be step three of everybody’s plan, all the time.
But that’s just me.
March 23, 2006 1:22 am
Lists help out a lot, but I also get overwhelmed with everything on it, feel that I won’t accomplish all that I need to then I just say screw it and then sit here beating myself up over not doing anything on the darn list.
March 23, 2006 6:21 am
Oh I am such a list maker. I even had a pad of paper next to my bed. It’s gotten worse as I get older because umm HELLO I don’t remember shit.
March 23, 2006 11:59 am
March 23, 2006 11:51 pm
Oh…I love lists. But they do get overwhelming. Lets NOT talk about the lists that I have. Okay, maybe a few. I have a list of things that need to be done before my sister gets here. I cut up the list and put them in a jar. When I’m feeling up to it or energetic, I’ll pull one slip of paper from the jar and do the task on it. Otherwise, it’s too overwhelming seeing the whole thing on paper. The slips of paper are all folded in fourths, so it’s hardly anything at all in the jar. Less to do.
I have a list of everything that is in our cupboards. The quantity, date it was bought, how much I currently have left if it’s something you use a little of. Examples:
Rice Pilaf, Pine Nut - Qty: 2 - 3.23.06
Flour, Whole Wheat - 2/3 of 5lb - 2.17.06
Cat Food - 1/4 of 7lb - 3.1.06
It’s all on a spreadsheet. God forbid my spreadsheet should ever be compromised. It. would. be. devastating.
March 27, 2006 2:00 am
hey, everyone! i like KG’s idea of putting all of the “to do” stuff in a jar. i don’t know about anyone else, but i have a really hard time prioritizing.
um…not so sure about making a spreadsheet for the contents of my cupboards, though!
March 27, 2006 12:12 pm
I really like that 1-2-3 concept. I think I’ll have to try that. Thanks!
April 3, 2006 11:01 am