A total life checklist
I came up with an idea today: I think it would be useful to have a list of everything that a typical person ought to do. After all, there is quite a lot of stuff that a typical person ought to do; how else is a person supposed to remember it all?
Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
Health
Eating well.
Exercising regularly.
Mitigating common risks in everyday life (e.g. wearing a seat belt while driving).
Other everyday health stuff (e.g. not sitting down eight hours a day).
Visiting a doctor, a dentist, and (if necessary) an optometrist on a regular basis.
Being familiar with common health problems and what to do about them.
Being able to recognize medical emergencies and react appropriately.
Maintaining mental health (see also: pretty much this entire list).
Money
Educating oneself in career-related skills.
Getting a job and/or becoming self-employed.
Networking (see also: interpersonal interaction).
Investing one’s savings appropriately.
Altruism
Donating to charity.
Volunteering for charity.
Doing favors for friends.
Interpersonal interaction
Developing and maintaining relationships with other people: friendly, romantic, family, others?
Discussion of useful topics.
Recreation
Hobbies, finding ways to enjoy yourself. (I’m not sure how to expand on this one.)
Responsibilities
Any responsibilities one has signed up for.
Productivity
Developing and maintaining one’s ability to get stuff done. (Kinda vague, this one.)
Maintaining a list of what needs to be done.
Making good decisions about what to do. In particular, which of the items on this list to focus on and how to accomplish them.
Skills
Developing the skills one needs to carry out these tasks effectively, through education, experience, and discussion.
Anyone have any suggestions for additions or improvements?
edit 1: some suggestions by Rain and aelephant
To be frank, I question the value of compressing information of this generality, even as a roadmap. For example, “Networking” can easily be expanded into several books (e.g., Dale Carnegie) and “Educating oneself in career-related skills” has almost zero intersection when quantified over all possible careers. If Eliezer had made a “things to know to be a rationalist” post instead of breaking it down into The Sequences, I doubt anyone would have had much use for it.
Maybe you could focus on a particular topic, compile a list of relevant resources you have uncovered, and ask LW for further opinions? In fact, people have done this.
Well, I somewhat agree. A list like this definitely isn’t very useful all by itself. The utility I imagine is in figuring out where the gaps in your knowledge are, and what you need to do better. If my goal is to live life as well as possible, I don’t just want to read a bunch of sequences; I also want to figure out which sequences I should read.
You say that you question the value of compressed information like this as a roadmap. Do you think that a different type of roadmap may be more useful, or that a roadmap may not be useful at all?
On the other hand, you tend to need an outline which graduates up to this level of vagueness at some point before writing large, in-depth works.
Seconded. Another question to ask: would you really expect this list, even if complete, to contain any new or useful information?
A list I collected a couple summers ago, inspired by Josh Kauffman’s list and another list I’m unable to track down at the moment. Clearly incomplete, too specific in some areas and too sparse in others, and some questions are probably leading. Not sure whether there is value here since I’ve never really used it since compiling it, but the idea of a list to make sure there aren’t gaps seems useful.
Pick up a journal, set aside a few hours, and spend time answering questions in an area you haven’t considered in a while. Make it fun: treat yourself to a nice lunch or go somewhere special while you answer questions. Thinking, especially about large topics, is hard work.
Global Heuristics
Keep in mind that in any given area of your life, you are unlikely to be at the optimum; for instance, unless you think you are already traveling too much, you should be traveling more. If you had to change a little bit, which direction should it be in?
Pay attention to opportunity costs. Even if something is desirable, you might be giving up something even better. Trade offs have to be made and optimizing locally may not produce global optima. At the same time, question your assumptions about trade-offs. Is there any way to acheive all goal simultaneously?
Pay attention to fungible goods, considering alternate ways to achieve the same goals in a cheaper way. For instance, rather than justifying an extra bedroom by saying your mother could stay in it when she visits, consider cheaper and nearly as good solutions like paying for her hotel room or giving her your room. Remember that money is not the only way to measure costs. Economize between money, time, attention, good will, energy, and other goods.
Avoid framing choices as “whether or not” (as in “I’m trying to decide whether or not to break up with my boyfriend”). Empirically, framing a situation this narrowly tends towards poor decisions (see Decisive by Chip Heath and Dan Heath). Thinking of just one more option can cast light on what’s important to you and what’s feasible in general.
Work
Career
Which career path am I pursuing?
What resources do I have to inform me of new opportunities? Promotions?
What am I looking for in a job? How do I prioritize salary, time off, interesting work, meaningful work, influence, access to resources, etc?
Am I developing skills that will help me progress in my current career? Open up other careers?
On the job
Is my work environment productive, with sufficient tools, resources, and support?
Would I benefit from a personal assistant?
Are there any tasks I can outsource?
Do I appropriately balance work and other pursuits?
Should I take more or less time off?
Should my work day be longer or shorter?
Do I respond to emails quickly and reliably? Am I distracted by my inbox? Do I make it clear to others when I won’t be able to respond?
Do I get along well with my coworkers? Clients? Managers? Staff?
Relationships
Friends and acquaintances
Do I have a circle of friends who appreciate me for who I am?
Do I tell others how much I appreciate them?
Am I current with personal calls, letters, and emails?
Is there anyone I am avoiding or would feel uncomfortable running into on the street or at a part?
Am I able to let go of relationships that are no longer beneficial?
Have I communicated or attempted to communicate with everyone whom I have hurt, injured or seriously upset, even if it wasn’t fully my fault?
Do I gossip or talk poorly about others?
Do I quickly correct miscommunications and misunderstandings when they occur?
Do I take any comments others make to me “personally”?
Do I take action or make requests rather than complain?
Family
Should I be in contact more or less frequently with my parents? Siblings? Grandparents? Cousins?
Significant Other(s)
Children
Pets
Home
Location
Am I living in the right place? Would another neighborhood, city, state, or country give me greater access to family, opportunities, culture, experiences?
Am I commuting a long distance? Can I live closer to places I frequently visit?
Do I need a smaller or larger living space?
Cleanliness and organization
Are my personal files, papers, and receipts neatly filed?
Is my home clean? Vacuumed, closets and drawers organized, desks and tables clear, furniture and windows clean?
Do my appliances and equipment work well (refridgerator, oven, lawn mower, air conditioner, water heater, television etc.)
Are my plants and animals healthy? Being fed and watered regularly, with adequate attention?
Is my bed/bedroom arranged for the best sleep possible (quality bed, adequate darkness, air, temp)?
Is there any housework I can outsource?
Aesthetics
Do I enjoy being in my home?
Is there a generous amount of quality lighting?
Is my home appropriately decorated and personalized?
Transportation
Are there different forms of transport available (car, public transport, bicycling, carpool)?
If I use a car, do I know how much common trips cost in fuel and anticipated maintenance?
Does my car need cleaning, repairs, or replacement?
Body
Sleep
Should I sleep more or less at night?
Should I have take greater or fewer naps?
Is my sleep restful?
Should I shift my sleep schedule earlier or later?
Energy and stress
Am I managing my energy well each day?
How do I manage daily stress?
Do I have good posture and poise?
Is my mind clear and focused?
Am I confident, relaxed, and productive?
Am I consistently early or on time? Am I frequently rushed?
Diet
What is the quality of my current diet?
Are there foods I eat too regularly?
Should I have more or less variety in what I eat?
Should I eat out more or less often?
Should I track what I am eating?
What foods should I always have on hand?
Should I eat more or less sugar?
Should I drink more or less soda? Tea and coffee? Alcohol?
Activity
Am I active? Do I walk frequently?
Should I exercise more or less?
Am I following a specific exercise program?
Do I avoid sitting or being sedentary for long periods?
Supplements
What supplements am I taking? Are they accomplishing their intended effect?
Am I taking fish oil or vitamin D?
Should I use more or less caffeine?
Medical
Have I had a complete physical exam within the past three years?
Do I know my and my family’s medical histories?
Am I taking appropriate medication regularly?
Am I satisfied with my weight?
Is my blood pressure at a healthy level?
Is my cholesterol at a healthy level?
Vision
Have I had a complete eye examination within the past two years?
Do I have eye strain in any situation?
Should I buy new glasses? Switch to or from contacts? Consider Lasik?
Should I wear sunglasses while outside or driving?
Dental
Have I been to the dentist recently?
Do I brush and floss regularly?
Are my teeth and gums healthy?
Should I whiten or straighten my teeth?
Appearance
Are my nails are healthy and well maintained?
Do I have dry skin or lips?
Continued
Tools
Computer
Does my computer function reliably? Is it painful or frustrating to use in any way?
Does my computer support my needs? Is there software available that would assist me with common tasks?
Do I make backups regularly?
If my computer is lost, stolen, or crashes, am I prepared to deal with it?
Phone
Does my phone function reliably? Is it painful or frustrating to use in any way?
Does my phone support my needs? Are there apps available that would assist me with common tasks?
If my phone is lost, stolen, or crashes, am I prepared to deal with it?
Is my voice and data plan adequate?
Social Interaction
Wardrobe
Do my clothes fit well? Do they enhance and flatter my body shape?
Do I have clothes appropriate to the situations I’m in?
Are my clothes up to date?
Do I have a well-defined personal style? Do I know what image I am trying to project?
Are my clothes are all ironed, clean? (No creases, piles of washing, torn clothing)
Hair
Do I need a haircut?
Should I try a new hairstyle?
Am I satisfied with my current stylist/barber?
Are there tools or products that would be useful?
Humor
Stories
Public speaking
Reputation and networking
Do I know what image I project? Do I know what my reputation is?
Can others count on me? Do I keep my word?
Personal Finance
Income and consumption
Am I currently living below my means?
If I could only own 100 things, what would they be?
Am I capable of separating necessity and luxury?
Is my source of income stable?
How much financial independence should I have and how much money would be necessary to achieve it?
Savings
Should I save more or less? Should I automate my savings?
Do I have six months living expenses in an easily accessible account?
Do I know how much my savings and assets are worth?
Bills
Do I pay my bills on time?
Can I automate my bill payments?
Are there services I continue to pay for that I no longer need (gym, Netflix, etc)?
Debts and obligations
Am I current on all my payments to individuals or companies?
Should I have greater or fewer lines of credit?
Does my credit card provide useful benefits? Do I know what the available benefits are?
Do I have appropriate withholdings to cover taxes?
Do I file my taxes in a timely manner?
Are all parking tickets, fines, alimony, or child support paid and current?
Insurance and contingency plans
Do I have adequate personal insurance (medical, life, accident, disability, etc)?
Are my assests well insured (car, home, possessions, etc)?
Do I need a will? Is it accurate and up-to-date?
Have I made arrangements for potential emergencies? Do I have important information and documents organized in a known location?
Hobbies and leisure
Media
Should I listen to more or less music? Who are the best and worst artists I currently listen to?
Should I listen to more or less diverse music? Are there genres of music I’ve neglected? Who are the best artists in genres I don’t typically listen to?
Should I watch more or less television? Movies? Do I have to follow TV shows as they air? Which movies should I see in theaters?
Should I read more or less? Fiction? Non-fiction? Should I buy books, go to libraries, buy an e-reader?
Am I being purposeful in choosing what media I consume? Why do I watch, listen to, or read what I do?
Activities
Are there activities I once did and enjoyed, but haven’t recently?
Should I travel more?
Should I spend more time outdoors?
Identity and strategy
Values
Do I know what I want?
What achievements would make me really excited?
What “states of being” do I want to experience each day?
Are my priorities and values clearly defined?
Do I consistently focus my attention on what I want vs. what I don’t want?
Am I “successful”?
Is there another way of defining success that would make me more satisfied?
How often do I compare myself to my perceptions of other people?
What do I feel grateful for in my life and work?
Do I have something to consistently look forward to each day?
Tracking
Do I systematically externalize (write or record) what I think about?
Am I making it easy to capture my thoughts quickly, as I have them?
What can I do to improve my ability to observe the world around me?
Should I keep a journal? What should I write in it?
Planning
What has my attention right now?
Am I regularly asking myself appropriate guiding questions?
Do I spend enough time actively reflecting on my goals, projects, and progress?
Have I found a planning method that works for me?
Action
Am I capable of making decisions quickly and confidently?
In what areas do I procrastinate? In what areas do I act impulsively?
Do I spend most of my time focusing on a single task, or constantly flipping between multiple tasks?
Do I have habits I should eliminate?
Fears and barriers
What am I afraid of?
Have I created an honest and complete list of the fears I’m holding on to?
Have I confronted each fear to imagine how I would handle it if it came to pass?
Am I capable of recognizing and correcting self-limitation?
Am I appropriately pushing my own limits?
To health, add, “Be aware of and have plans to mitigate common risk factors in your daily life (seatbelt while driving, etc.)”.
To health, add, “Maintain a balanced and stable mental state (seek counseling if necessary)”.
Hobbies could probably be relisted as, “Fun: Find ways to ensure you’re enjoying yourself (hobbies, etc.)”.
To interpersonal, add, “If interested in doing so, pursue sexual relationships and/or spawning activities”.
For the salmon among us...
You are engaging in the rudiments of goal factoring. I suggest using workflowy for the simple tree structure it provides if you don’t already use a text editor with such functionality. Using trees, you can drill down from long term goals to short term goals. Doing such provides a wonderful method both of organizing lists of things you need to do, and increased motivation due to seeing how sub-tasks directly relate to the things you really want.
This week’s southbay meetup is covering this topic.
Insurance: If not already mandated by the state you are living in, buy insurance against catastrophic risk, that is any liability you are unable to pay without a major hit in your quality of life. This includes health insurance, liability insurance, disability insurance, legal expenses insurance if you are self-employed, rentor’s insurance if your possesions are particularly valuable and life insurance if you have dependent children. If possible, buy insurance with co-payment as this reduces the premium massively. Again, anything that you can pay for without serious reduction in quality of life or that is a near-certain expense is meaningless to insure.
Also, insurance offers nice information and services. Liability insurance deals with mitigation and litigation for you, home owner’s insurance informs you through the premium of particual risks of placing your home. They may even deal with the headache of finding and ordering people to repair your home.
Some would argue that cryonics should be added to health (and hence that in the needed-but-already-suggested ‘insurance’ section, life insurance should be included for cryonics as well as for e.g children) .
What is the goal of this checklist? What are you trying to achieve by using it?
What I said here, I guess: figuring out where the gaps in my knowledge, skills, and habits are, and what I need to do better.
As an experiment, this seems like the sort of thing that the cloud outlining tool Workflowy would be useful for—I’d be interested to see LWers start to fill in the various bullets down to whatever nesting level they’re interested in.
https://workflowy.com/shared/0356fc36-a7b5-d275-6a8e-aaa79e2bea44/
I’ve prepopulated it with the contents of the post (but not the comments.)
Press Control-? for a list of keyboard shortcuts.
To the health section I would add mobility. Most of us are destroying our bodies by sitting 8+ hours a day. You have to find a way to balance it out.
Hobbies could probably be relisted as “Fun: Find ways to ensure you’re enjoying yourself (hobbies, etc.)”.