There’s something incredibly satisfying about checking things off a list. I’ve never seen the data to prove it, but I’m convinced there are studies showing that crossing items off a list produces a happy rush of endorphins.
Lists keep us organized and serve as reminders for all the information floating around in our heads. They give us a sense of control and help reduce anxiety. Speaking from personal experience, my favorite list, my travel list, makes packing an almost enjoyable activity. I never stress about forgetting something because everything I need is already on my list.
Here are some of my other favorite lists:
- Shareable Grocery List
There are many apps to choose from; we use Out of Milk. Within the app, I keep multiple lists. In addition to our weekly grocery list, I have a Thanksgiving list. Since I typically make the same dishes every year, this list means I never have to reinvent the wheel. - Gift List
Keeping track of the gifts I’ve given to friends and family has been incredibly helpful and prevents me from accidentally repeating gifts. - Holiday Party List
We host a couple of parties every year, and I keep a list of all the dishes I serve. After each event, I add notes about what worked, what didn’t, and the quantities I used. - Clothes List
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. Before a trip, I lay out all my clothes, take photos of the assembled outfits and add them to a separate note for that trip. This strategy has multiple benefits: it reminds me which outfits I packed while I’m away, and it helps me avoid repeating the same outfit if I attend the same conference the following year. - Movie / TV Show List
How often do you hear someone rave about a show they just watched, only to forget the title later? Create this list in your phone’s Notes app. You can even add a rating or your own “CliffNotes” so you remember what happened before the next season. - Book List
See #5 for the same suggestions. - Restaurant List
Ditto #6. - Wine List
There are some great wine apps out there; I use Vivino. You can look up a bottle, rate the wine, and share your comments with other vinophiles. - Travel List
This list can be divided into categories: bucket-list destinations, recommendations from friends, or places you’ve discovered online. You can also store all the documentation for an upcoming trip in one place. - The Everyday To-Do List
No list would be complete without an honorable mention for the everyday to-do list. This one comes in many forms, but my recommendation is to break tasks into manageable steps and divide the list into easy-to-complete items, urgent items, and long-range items.
There are many options for digital list making. The iPhone’s Notes app is definitely my go-to. What other lists do you have? Let me know—and happy list making!
Janet