Writing lists is one of the best ways to help get organized. Lists are perfect for organizing your thoughts in a clear and concise way without feeling overwhelmed.
Writing lists is a powerful tool to help you get organized, remember important information, and hold yourself accountable. Setting yourself up with a good organizational system will not only help you stay on track but will also help save you time in the long run.
Do you find you are constantly asking yourself what needs to get done? What did I need at the grocery store? When is that work Christmas party? What will I need to pack for my weekend trip?
Our lives are busy. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything you need to get done for yourself. Now, add in a home, a family, and work obligations and the to-do lists can truly feel neverending. Creating organized lists for different aspects of your life will help ease some of the stress and anxiety you may be feeling when managing a busy schedule.
There is also something so satisfying about crossing items off your list. It seriously is one of the best motivators when you feel stuck or uninspired to get stuff done!
This post is all about the best lists to write to help get your life organized.
Lists To Help Get Organized
1. Daily To-Do List
A daily to-do list is a lifesaver. Writing down everything you need to get done on a given day is so helpful to staying organized and ensuring all of your errands and tasks are completed.
Let’s be real, for many of us a daily to-do list could have anywhere from 3 to 30+ items on it. That number can be overwhelming. Instead of having one long list, try breaking your daily to-do list into chunks. There are a few different ways you can organize this list. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Break your list up into morning, afternoon, and night tasks
- Separate your tasks by category (household, work, kids, self-care, etc.)
- Prioritize your list (must do today, must do by end of the week, will do if enough time, etc.)
2. Brain Dump
A brain dump is a place to write down anything and everything that comes to your mind. Full disclosure, brain dumps are meant to be messy.
I recommend adding to your brain dump every night before bed. It will help you get your thoughts, worries, and concerns out in a productive way.
You can add to this list anytime something comes to your mind that you don’t want to forget. This list is ongoing. Once you have your brain dump list created, you can look at the notes and organize them accordingly.
3. Grocery List
Having a designated spot for a grocery list is a game-changer. Whether you want to keep pen and paper on your fridge or create a digital grocery list is up to you. Find a system that works for your lifestyle. Anytime something is running low, add it to your grocery list. No more running out of milk or forgetting that one ingredient you absolutely need for dinner tonight!
4. Gifts to Buy
How many times have the holidays arrived and you have zero clue what to buy for your relatives? Or, it’s the day of your little cousin’s birthday party and you still haven’t purchased a gift? We’ve all been there.
A gifts to buy list is a great way to write down gift ideas you have for your significant other, family, and friends as they mention them. You can add to this list as needed throughout the year. No more scrambling at the last minute to find the perfect gift!
5. Household Chores
Keep a list of the household chores you need to get done. Here are a few ways you can organize this:
- By room (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom)
- By frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)
- By the time it requires (10 minutes or less, 1 hour or less, 3+ hours, etc.)
Breaking your lists into smaller chunks not only takes your organization system to the next level, but it also allows you to tackle the list with more confidence.
6. Goals
Create a list of goals you have. These types of lists are my favorite to look back on. It is an amazing way to see how much progress you’ve made. It’s also a great place to turn when you are feeling unmotivated or hesitant to start a new venture.
7. Favorite Nail Colors
This is a new list I recently created in the notes app on my phone. Does anyone else choose nail colors they love and then immediately forget the name of the polish? I was doing this almost every time I went to the nail salon despite reading the label and telling myself I need to remember. This list is so helpful and can be added to whenever you find a new nail color you absolutely love.
8. Upcoming Appointments
Keep a running list of your appointments that have been scheduled and ones that need to be scheduled in the future. This list can help you organize your medical, dental, vision, and auto appointments. Ensure that you never miss an upcoming appointment again with this helpful list.
9. Books to Read
Book recommendations from friends, colleagues, and even social media posts are a great way to expand our reading choices. But, how do you remember the titles and authors of each suggestion? Create a list titled “Books to Read” and add to it whenever you receive a recommendation.
10. Usernames and Passwords
Keep an up-to-date list of all your usernames and passwords. In today’s digital world, we have logins for nearly every app and website we use. It is borderline impossible to remember them all off the top of our heads. Create a list to help organize the usernames and passwords for each platform. This is a huge time saver and will help you avoid the frustration that comes with the “incorrect username or password” message.
11. Errands List
Create a list for all of your errands. Instead of wasting time driving around and searching store to store for what you need, create a clear plan. This will save you time and money.
Pro tip: Write down exactly what you need to do or buy at each location and stick to your list. Don’t let yourself get sidetracked by unnecessary spending.
12. Gratitude List
Anytime something makes you feel good or thankful for your life, add it to your gratitude list. This is the perfect list to turn to when you are having a tough day. It will seriously make you appreciate all of life’s little moments that much more.
13. List of Birthdays
Create a list for your loved ones’ birthdays and never worry about forgetting the day again! This one may take a little bit of work to create, but once you have it made you’ll never really have to touch it again. Unless you are adding in new friends or relatives of course!
14. Meal Planning List
This is a list that you could create weekly or monthly. Deciding what meals you would like to cook in advance will save you time and money at the grocery store. This is also a great way to build leftover nights into your schedule. No more wasting food!
15. Shows/Movies You Want to Watch
Are there shows or movies you’ve been dying to watch but can’t seem to remember the titles once you open up Netflix? This has happened to me way too frequently. Create a list of shows or movies you want to watch and check them off as you go!
16. Fridge, Freezer, Pantry Inventory List
Buying in bulk can save us both money and trips to the grocery store. How do you know when it’s time to restock? Keep a running tally of the common food items you keep in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. For example, if you purchased 8 boxes of spaghetti when they were on sale, keep track as you use the boxes. This will let you know when the food is about to run out and it’s time for you to head back to the grocery store.
17. Recurring Bills List
Keep track of your recurring bills with an organized list. A good way to set this list up is by creating three categories: 1) What is the bill? 2) How much does it cost? 3) When is it due?
This type of list will help you pay all of your bills on time. It can also be used as a guide to set up your monthly budget.
18. Bucket List
Is there a hobby you’ve been wanting to start? A concert you’ve been dying to attend? A home you would love to purchase? Add all of your hopes, wishes, and dreams to your bucket list. The best part about this list is you get to dream big. No limitations!
19. Dream Travel Destinations
Create a list of top travel destinations you would love to visit. Similar to your bucket list, dream big! Even if you can’t travel to this destination now, write it down anyway. You will get there someday! Writing down our dreams is the first step to turning them into reality.
20. Recipes to Try
Are you finding fun recipes all over TikTok, Instagram, and other social platforms? There is an abundance of recipes all over the internet. Lucky for us, there are creators sharing unique ingredients, recipe guides, and tutorials to make all of these delicious meals.
With all of this useful information at our fingertips, it can be challenging to keep it all organized. Create a list of the recipes you want to try. This list will help you to get organized by having a designated, go-to spot for when you want to get creative in the kitchen.
21. Journaling Prompts
If you enjoy writing, then this is an excellent list to keep handy. Journal prompts can be found all over Pinterest. Keep a running list of journal prompts you would like to write. Whenever you have the inspiration, pull out your list, choose a prompt that fits your mood, and start writing!
22. Hair and Skin Care Products to Buy
Keeping a list of all of the hair and skin care products you use is key for efficient shopping. Finding the perfect combination of products can be challenging. Once you find a hair and skin routine that works for you, hold onto it tight! Trust me, you’ll want this list readily available when you are at the store ready to stock up on your favorite products.
23. Packing List
Traveling to a new location is stressful enough as it is, we don’t need to add forgetting important items to our list of worries. Create a packing list for your next vacation. Try to write down everything you will need before you start packing (toiletries, shoes, jewelry, outfits, bathing suits, etc.).
Once you are on vacation, you may notice that you’ve forgotten some items. Take the time to add these forgotten items to your packing list. Repeat this process as necessary. The best part of an organized packing list is that once it is created you can use it over and over again.
There is no doubt that lists help us get organized. In our busy lives, the number of tasks we need to get done can seem daunting. Creating organized lists will keep you accountable and stress-free!
Leave a Reply