For as long as I can remember I have been a list maker. I am a bit of a Type-A person where I like organization, function, simplicity and goal creation and lists have always been something that I have utilized as part of these things. By using lists I have been able to create a life that I live more simply and more intently. They give me clarity as to how I want to go about my life by taking time to contemplate and to get the thought onto paper. The simplicity of list making is that all you need is a good pen, notebook and your own thoughts. I personally like writing out lists more than keeping them on my phone. I look at enough screens throughout any given day, so taking this time with a notebook and coffee is such a simple self care thing that I do for myself
I always keep a notebook on me to write down various lists of things that I enjoy and want to accomplish. Knowing that I have control of my time and thoughts brings a sense of comfort in a world full of physical and mental clutter. Today’s hyper connectivity has created within us a feeling of confusion, anxiousness, FOMO and especially decision fatigue. It can be hard to know what you really want from one day to the next.
That is why I love list making. It makes me particularly good at organizing my life and choosing what I want to do. Time is the most precious commodity that we have, and one that we can never get back once gone. Writing lists is truly the first step towards becoming the master of your time and your life.
Life demands many decisions from us, and if we are too bogged down with analysis paralysis and don’t make a decision then you will not achieve much of anything. Creating lists can help us see our lives more clearly and bring into focus what we really want from our time. When we commit our desires to paper, we bring more importance to them.
The goal of taking the time to write out a list is to live with more intention and to create a better life. It’s a way making ourselves concentrate and work on creating the life that we dream of. I keep a planner at my desk that I write in and keep a check it on every week, but I also keep a blank notebook to fill in all types of lists. These range from things that are practical such as a shopping list to a future goals list. I will share some of my lists below.
Keeping lists can also bring back good memories in the way a photograph can. For example, I was looking in a notebook that I had from 2018 and was reading through things like planning our trip to Paris that fall, dinner menus, Thanksgiving and Christmas plans, etc. I was instantly brought back to that time and place and felt a little wave of happiness remembering when I created and executed those lists.
Lists are also very helpful in creating who want to be in this world. I like to write things to myself in a third person perspective too such as “She likes to enjoy her coffee slowly in the morning”. I create wishes and aspirations for my life by looking at them from another perspective as we often see things better from the outside looking in.
Here are some of the lists that I make in my notebooks and although there are many lists, I am almost certain that it is not inclusive of everything I make a list for:
-Travel Destinations
-Books To Read
-Inspiring Quotes and Ideas
-Lifestyle Aspirations
-Wardrobe Pieces I’d Like To Have
-Things For The Home I’d Like To Buy
-Dinner Menus / New Recipes
-Travel Itineraries
-Morning/Nighttime Routines
-Exercise and Meal Plans
-Blog Post Ideas
-Money Goals
-Monthly Budgets
-Things I Want To Learn
-Seasonal Things To Do (Such as vacations, holiday traditions, etc.)
-Things I Am Grateful For
-Health Goals and Action Steps
-Movies I’d Like To See
-Self Care Ideas
If you are interested in list making and the many different types of lists that you too can make, I highly recommend the books L’art De La Liste. This not only gives good examples of lists that you can make, but also delves deep into why list making enriches our lives. I have provided a link below (no commissions, etc). And if you have Kindle then it’s only $3.99.
I’ve always been a list person too. In fact, every morning at work, I make a list of all the things I’d like to get done that day. It feels amazing crossing off each and every task as the day goes on. I use lists for vacation-planning too! Making lists, for me anyway, makes me feel like there’s way more order to everything than there actually is.
I somehow knew you would be my fellow list maker and lover! I agree that creating a list makes everything feel more in order and organized. I love the act of writing things down and crossing them off, it’s a like a physical reminder of all that you accomplished.