The Benefits of Lists
It’s a whole new year, and starting it off organized can make a big difference. Personally, I am a huge proponent of making lists, and more recently, purpose statements. With two littles running around, writing things down is essential to my own organizational system. Everything is a list. Groceries I need, upcoming events and appointments, daily tasks, goals for the month, etc.–all lists. An organizational system, such as list making is extremely helpful to reduce stress and stay on top of things.
Let’s Talk About List Making
List-making is about organization, personal satisfaction, and helps reduce stress by lowering your mental load. Writing it down takes it off of your mental load. You can ‘forget’ about it until it’s time to tackle it. You’re more likely to relax without it weighing on your mind—and relaxation is essential to your well-being. Here are some tips I have:
Tips:
- Make your daily goals attainable so that you receive a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. This will give you the motivation to continue on. You can do this by making your lists in two columns. The first is where your ‘must-dos’ go—what you absolutely must get done today in order for life to progress. The second being where your ‘could-dos’ go—what you would like to do if you have time, after your must-dos are complete. If you don’t have time, some can become ‘must-dos’ tomorrow.
- If it’s a big project, break it down into smaller goals. This will help it feel more attainable and less overwhelming.
- Write in pencil. Things change. ‘Can-dos’ and ‘must-dos’ can shift. You will feel more able to accomplish a cleanly written list, rather than a sloppy one.
- When you finish, cross it off. Press hard. Feel the satisfaction. Praise yourself.
- If you do something that wasn’t originally on the list, add it and cross it off. You earned it!
Time Well SpentSelf-Organization: Lists and Purpose Statements
When the new year rolls in, I usually take a few days to mentally organize. I make lists of goals, plans, and projects to get done. I write some intentions (read more here). It’s a therapeutic feeling, as I am able to feel less stressed knowing I’ve written my thoughts down somewhere concrete. This has allowed me to focus more on my family, my hobbies, and to just really relax when I needed to over the past couple days. If you have a need for self-organization, I encourage you to try these methods. Helpful is an understatement!
