Creating lists is one of the best ways we can stay on track with our goals and boost productivity. Lists are one of our greatest tools when it comes to organization, saving time, and overall motivation.
For as long as I can remember I have been writing lists. I’ve written lists on sticky notes, notepads, whiteboards, and in more recent years the notes app on my phone. I’ve learned a lot over the last few years and have created organized systems that are proven to work!
Writing lists can help ease some of our anxiety when we have a laundry list of things to get done or an excessive amount of items to buy during the busy holiday season. Lists help us to stay organized, motivated, and on track in our daily lives.
Getting into the habit of creating organized lists will seriously change your life. Say goodbye to the stress and worry of forgetting something or feeling unprepared. Lists are here to save the day.
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This post is all about writing lists to improve organization and boost productivity.
How To Write A List
Writing lists does not have to be complicated. In fact, it should be kept as simple and efficient as possible.
There is no one size fits all way to write a list. Finding a method that works for you and your lifestyle is the first step when creating any successful list system. Here are some tried and true tips for creating organized lists:
Create a title for your list
One of the easiest ways to keep your lists organized is to give your list a clear title. When you are writing multiple lists it can become overwhelming to keep track of them without proper labels.
Titling your lists is an easy fix. Not only will it help keep the items you add to your list on task, but it will also help you to easily search for and find the list when needed.
Some lists may require a very specific title such as, “Paint Colors for Downstairs Bathroom”, while other lists may be titled, “November Brain Dump”. Whatever your list entails, just be sure to give it a proper label.
Use numbers, bullet points, or checkboxes
Whether you are writing your list with pen and paper or typing your list into your phone, you are going to want to use a number, bullet point, or checkbox system. There is something so satisfying about physically checking things off a to-do list!
Numbered lists are great for prioritizing tasks. Let’s say you have a to-do list of tasks that need to get done on Saturday. You would label your most important task number 1 and then move down your list accordingly.
Bullet point lists are helpful for ongoing lists. These lists are filled with things that don’t necessarily need to be completed, but rather information that you want to refer back to at any given time. Think about a list of recommended books, a list of your favorite nail colors, or a list of the cleaning products you prefer.
Checkbox lists can be used for task lists that do not have a particular priority order. This type of list is great for household chores, errands, or even school assignments.
Keep it short and simple
If you are anything like me, once your mind starts racing you could fill up an entire notebook of things you need to remember or tasks that need to get done. I have created lists like that before. Lists that ended up being pages long and quite honestly, too overwhelming to even look at.
When creating lists, I like to keep one “braindump list“. This is where all of those intrusive thoughts find their home. Every couple of days I will take a look at this braindump list.
I either add that idea, question, or task to its appropriate list. Or, I realize I no longer need to worry about the said idea, question, or task and I delete it from the braindump list completely.
This system has helped me to keep my actual lists organized, accessible, and easy to tackle.
There is no magical number for how long lists can be, but remember lists are supposed to increase productivity and efficiency. If your lists are adding to your stress or leaving you too overwhelmed to get started, then try creating smaller lists.
Where To Write Lists For Productivity
Choosing where you want to write your lists is an important decision to make. Here are some questions to think about:
- Are my lists easily accessible at any given moment? Think in the car, at the grocery store, at work…
- Can I quickly add to my list when needed?
- Do I prefer pen and paper or technology?
When choosing a method for writing your lists you should think about your lifestyle and preferences. Here are some options for list writing:
- Sticky notes
- Small notebook
- Whiteboard
- Notes app on your iPhone
- Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Google Keep
- Planner
The best advice I can give you is to be consistent in your list location. Having too many lists in various different spots can become very confusing and disorganized quickly.
Remember creating lists is supposed to enhance our organizational systems, not complicate them.
Related Post: 17 Productive Things To Do On Your Phone Instead Of Social Media
7 Easy Lists To Keep You Organized
These are the 7 lists that I keep updated in my notes daily. Stick with these easy lists and watch your life transform.
1. Brain Dump List
This is where any and all of my thoughts get written down. Think of this list as organized chaos.
The brain dump list is a way to declutter your mind. We are all so busy and it can feel like we have a million things to think about at any given moment.
By creating a brain dump list you are allowing your mind to have a space to let these thoughts out in a productive way. If you ever have a thought, question, or concern and don’t have the time to deal with it at the very moment it comes to your mind, add it to the brain dump list and return back to it when you can.
My brain dump list has been a lifesaver.
2. Grocery/Must-Buy List
The grocery/must-buy list has come in so handy for me over the years. I add to this list almost daily.
This list does not have to just be food and drinks. I add anything that has to be purchased to this list. Think birthday gifts, skin and hair care products, batteries/chargers, cleaning supplies, etc.
When you are out doing errands, you’ll have one list to turn to that will let you know every item that needs to be bought.
3. Daily To-Do List
The daily to-do list is my ultimate hack for productivity. Create a to-do list for each day and watch as your days seem less stressful, and more efficient almost instantly.
I like to create my daily to-do list the night before so that I can wake up knowing exactly what needs to get done throughout the day. Each night think of the tasks that you want to accomplish the next day.
Try to be realistic with the number of items you add to your daily to-do list. Adding too many tasks will become too difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish in one day. Be sure to factor in work and any other obligations when creating a daily to-do list.
Productivity Hack: Break your daily to-do list into chunks for better time management.
4. Usernames/Passwords List
I seriously don’t know how people survive without a username/password list!
In today’s world with logins for nearly every app and site we use, maintaining a running and secured list of all of your usernames and passwords is absolutely necessary. You’ll never have to worry about getting locked out of your accounts for a forgotten password again.
Make sure you keep this list in a protected and secure spot that only you have access to.
5. Bucket List
Creating a bucket list can be as dreamy or realistic as you want. Personally, I like to have a combination of both.
I categorize my bucket list into subsections like these:
- Movies/TV shows to watch
- Places to travel
- Restaurants to try
- Concerts to attend
- Financial milestones
Related Post: 23 Lists To Help You Get Organized
6. Monthly Goals
Creating a list with monthly goals is an easy way to hold yourself accountable each month. At a quick glance, you can remind yourself what you are working towards and assess your progress towards each goal.
Just like with your “daily to-do list” try to be realistic with what you can accomplish, while still aiming high. It is better to work towards attainable monthly goals as these will bring you closer to your bigger, long-term goals.
When creating your monthly goals list, think about the different aspects of your life. How can you improve physically, mentally, financially, or spiritually?
7. Do Not Forget List
A “do not forget list” is an easy way to keep note of products you love, authors you enjoy reading, recipes you want to cook, and more.
If you’re like me, then simply writing things down helps ease some anxiety and stress. I swear I write everything down because I have a fear I’m going to forget something important. This list has helped me tremendously.
Here are some categories I have on my “Do Not Forget List”:
- Nail polish colors
- Books/authors I loved
- Cheesy party dip recipe
- Baby names…Doesn’t every girl have this list? 😉
- Content ideas
Final Thoughts on Creating Lists
I hope you find some inspiration to get organized and boost your productivity through efficient lists. Creating lists does not have to be hard!
Have some fun with it and get creative making lists that fit your lifestyle.
What types of lists will you always keep updated?
This post was all about how to create organized and easily accessible lists.
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