The Checklist Brain: A Personal Reflection by Purple Lady Cathy

Welcome to Purple Lady Cathy

Hello and welcome to my little corner of the internet.

If you’re finding me for the first time, I’m Purple Lady Cathy, and this blog is going to be a place for real life, real thoughts, and all those little things that can sometimes take up far too much room in my head.

Lately I’ve been noticing more and more about the way my mind works.

Not in a big dramatic way.

More in those quiet moments when something suddenly clicks and you think, oh… that makes sense now.

One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that my mind seems to go straight into checklist mode from the moment I wake up.

Did I wash my hair today?

Do I need to wash it today?

What am I wearing?

What needs doing today?

Will I get everything on my list done?

And if I don’t, why does it feel so big?

It’s the little things that seem to take up so much space in my head.

Sometimes far more space than they probably should.

Alongside that, I’ve been thinking a lot about autism, anxiety, mental health, neurodiversity and menopause, and how all of those things may connect for me.

I’ve spent years just getting on with life, putting one foot in front of the other, but the more I read and reflect, the more I recognise parts of myself.

The routines that help me feel grounded.

The need for things to happen in a certain order.

The way one small thing being “off” can make the whole day feel unsettled.

The anxiety that can appear before there is even anything obvious to be anxious about.

I may never have all the answers, and I’m okay with that.

This space isn’t about having everything neatly figured out.

It’s about noticing.

Reflecting.

Sharing.

And maybe helping someone else feel a little less alone.

A big part of my everyday life is my two little dogs, Reggie and Ronnie.

I absolutely love taking them out every day.

Those walks are such an important part of my routine and my wellbeing.

They get me out in the fresh air, moving, thinking, and often help clear my head.

But even then, the worry can creep in.

I sometimes find myself anxious that one of them might do something wrong.

What if they bark?

What if they get under someone’s feet?

What if someone shouts at me?

Sometimes that worry starts before we’ve even left the house.

It sounds like such a small thing, but it’s real.

And I know I won’t be the only one whose mind turns small moments into big worries.

So this blog is going to be a mixture of diary, reflection, awareness and conversation.

A place where I can share the honest parts of life.

If any of this sounds familiar, I’d genuinely love to hear from you in the comments.

Maybe you have your own checklist brain.

Maybe you’ve had similar thoughts around anxiety, neurodiversity, menopause, or just the mental load of everyday life.

Thank you for being here.

Love,

Purple Lady Cathy