Waiting List: So Tasks Don't Get Stuck
The Waiting List is a Fly Lady method tool for tracking tasks stuck in limbo—deliveries, responses, or delegated work. Write down what you're waiting for, from whom, and when to check back. A weekly review keeps everything under control while freeing mental energy from endless reminders.
When Tasks Get Stuck in Limbo
You ordered a part for your vacuum cleaner—and now you're waiting for delivery. You sent documents—and you're waiting for a response. You asked your husband to fix a shelf—and you're waiting again. And in your head it keeps spinning: "I need to remember to check, I need to remind him, I need to..."
Your brain is overloaded with these "hanging tasks" that drain your energy but never move forward. The Fly Lady method offers a simple and brilliant solution—the Waiting List. It's a place where you put all the tasks that don't depend on you right now.
What Is a Waiting List
It's a special list for tasks you can't complete right now because you're waiting for something external. Maybe you're waiting for a call from a repairman, a response from the clinic, a package from an online store, or for someone to complete their part of the work.
Instead of keeping all this in your head and constantly remembering "did I forget something?", you simply write the task down in your Waiting List. And you free up space in your head for living, not for endless monitoring. This is one of the tools of the Fly Lady method that helps unload your mind and restore your peace of mind.
How to Work with a Waiting List
Create a separate list—it can be a notebook, a note on your phone, or a special section in the LadyFly app. Every time a task hits a waiting point, write down:
- What exactly you're waiting for
- From whom or where
- When you need to check the status (approximate date)
For example: "Waiting for a response from the kindergarten about enrollment—check on March 15" or "Ordered face cream—track the package in 3 days."
Once a week, review your Waiting List. Check whether what you were waiting for has arrived, whether it's time to remind someone or clarify information. It takes just a few minutes, but what a relief!
Why This Works
When you write a task down in your Waiting List, your brain understands: "Okay, this is taken care of, I can let it go." You stop wasting mental energy on constantly replaying the same thoughts.
You no longer feel guilty that something is "stuck." After all, you've done everything that depends on you, and now you're simply waiting for your turn to act. This isn't procrastination—it's smart organization. You separate what's in your hands from what doesn't depend on you.
LadyFly Will Help You Keep Track
In the LadyFly app, you can easily maintain your Waiting List along with your other tasks and routines. The system will remind you to check the status of tasks at the right time, and you won't miss anything.
Try it today: write down all the tasks that are currently "hanging" while waiting for something. Feel how much easier it becomes to breathe when your head is freed from this burden. The Waiting List isn't about postponing—it's about living peacefully, knowing that everything is under control.
