Why I’ve Always Loved Lists (and Why They Needed to Change)

When I was a kid, my mornings before school ran like a Navy SEAL operation. I’d map out my 30 minutes with precision:

• 6:00–6:05 Pee

• 6:05–6:07 Brush teeth

• 6:07–6:20 Get dressed (outfit picked out the night before)

• 6:20–6:24 Breakfast

• 6:24–6:27 Make up (lip gloss and blush applied with my finger)

• 6:27–6:30 Grab backpack and head to the car

I didn’t just like lists—I lived by them. And honestly? I saw them like a personal stopwatch. A challenge. The time to beat. How efficient could I be? How much could I squeeze into the tiniest window of time? Chasing that feeling of being ahead of schedule.

Fast forward to adulthood and motherhood, and that list-making habit never left me. But something changed.

The Repeating To-Do List

Somewhere along the way, my lists stopped feeling motivating and started feeling like that morning Bill Murray has in Goundhog Day. Every morning, I’d sit down and write out the same lineup:

• Laundry

• Plan menu

• Crock pot something

• Exercise

• Inbox

Then I’d plow through it, cross off most things—except exercise (that was perpetually moved to tomorrow)—and rinse and repeat the next day.

One night, lying in bed, I had this sinking thought: Is this it?

Was my whole life going to be a series of flawless laundry cycles and well-timed crock pot meals? At my funeral, would someone stand up and say: “Wow, she got really good at completing the same five tasks every day.” Would my kids think, “well, she never played with us, but she did a lot of laundry.”

The Realization

That night, it hit me: I wasn’t even putting the things I actually wanted to do on my lists. Drawing. Journaling. Playing with my kids. Reading a book. Taking a walk just for the sake of being outside.

None of it made the cut, because I felt like it didn’t “count.” And yet, those were the very things that would make me feel alive, creative, connected, and proud of how I spent my days.

So I started doing something different.

Instead of asking “What needs to get done?” I started asking:

“When I lay down to sleep tonight, how do I want to feel about this day?”

From there, I’d work backwards. If I wanted to feel healthy, I’d add something active to my list. If I wanted to feel content, I’d make space for play or connection. If I wanted to feel accomplished, I’d tackle one meaningful task that moved me forward instead of just spinning my wheels.

Why The Tackle List Exists

The Tackle List was born from that shift. From realizing that the best lists aren’t just endless chores—they’re tools for designing days that add up to a life you’re proud of.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re treading water, writing the same list over and over, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I’m still there some days. But I know now that the way out isn’t by doubling down on laundry and inbox zero.

It’s by choosing what matters. Breaking down the big goals. And making sure today’s list leads to tomorrow’s life.