Hi. I’m Susan and I’m a recovering To Do List-er.

For as long as I can remember, my days have been ruled by my attachment to my To Do list. (With all respect to the recovery community, attachment comes in lots of forms.)

In elementary school, I made daily lists of homework assignments and chores. I regularly put off playing with friends for crossing things off my list. (My mom and I even shared a habit of putting things on the list that we’d already done to get the satisfaction – and, I now understand, a dopamine hit – of crossing it off!)

The Tyranny of the To Do List has ruled me through school and work and even travel. Three different lists often line my desk dictating what I need do to make a day productive and therefore successful.