Yeah, the "small, checked-off boxes" thing is exactly it... I did something similar when I was waiting for some test results last year. For me, it wasn't just the date of a call. I'd put the date, then like "called clinic, left message with nurse." And then I'd honestly write my mood in a few words right after... "felt nervous" or "weirdly okay today." Seeing it all on paper turned this big, scary wait into just a list of things I did and felt. It stopped it from being a huge cloud in my head.

But have you considered how much worse it can be dealing with the place directly? If their own driver screws up, good luck getting any help. At least with the app you can see the GPS and complain for a refund right there. Last time I called a place direct, they argued with me for ten minutes and I still ate the cost. The apps have their problems, but they actually have customer service when things go south.

My alarm clock fights me every morning at 6, so maybe your cranes and I have the same problem.

My grandpa used to wet sand with a drop of dish soap in the water. He said it lifts the grain without scratching, and now I get why those weird tricks work! Makes you appreciate the old school methods.