Want a simple, quick, and easy way to instantly upgrade your organization and productivity game?
Here it is: Make a list.
Lists are one of the most basic and most awesome systems I use to reach my goals.
I make lists for many, many different things. Some are just for fun, like my “Chuck-it List: Things I Will Never Do Before I Die” (featuring items like run a marathon, wear Converse shoes and a wedding dress at the same time… did I mention run a marathon??).
And some lists are a critical part of my daily routine.
Lists help me to save time, get more done, make more money, set my priorities, and yes – have more fun!
In this article, I’m going to share with you the lists you should make, including the classic Daily To-Do List and the Master To-Do List, but also over 25 other lists that will come in handy.
But first, let me tell you why making lists will help you be more productive, organized, and accomplished.
How can making a list help me be productive?
Lists help you be more productive for these reasons:
You don’t have to remember to remember things.
Have you ever thought of something that you need to do later and told yourself, “Oh, I’ll remember.” …Aaaaaand have you forgotten to do it?
I swear, it’s almost like the act of saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll remember,” guarantees that I’ll forget. *face palm*
Your brain is an amazing tool, but it can only remember so much. Besides that, the mind power it takes to remember things causes mental fatigue and stress.
Productivity expert David Allen wisely said, “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.”
So when you think of something you need to remember, don’t cost yourself unnecessary mental energy trying to remember it. Just write it down in a list.
Lists will help get you organized.
Do you ever have 1 million things on your mind at once, and you just can’t even envision what you need to be doing first?
Making a list can help you organize your thoughts, get clear on what you need to do, and then prioritize how you can get started.
Lists give you a sense of accomplishment.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of crossing an item off your to-do list. It just feels so satisfying!
Sometimes, at the end of the day, the negative-Nelly inner voice in my head likes to say, “What did you even accomplish today?”
While the worth of your day (or your self-worth) is in no way determined by the tasks checked off your list, it’s nice for me to look at what I’ve checked off and remember that I have done things that are worthwhile.
(By the way, what do you think – is it okay to add a task to your to-do list after you’ve done it, just so you can cross it out? Asking for a friend…)
Types of lists you should make:
The To-Do List
You can make a list for almost anything, but a list that’s great for productivity is the to-do list.
Daily to-do lists are one of my favorite productivity tools. I don’t like to plan out my day rigidly, so time blocking doesn’t work well for me. Instead, I like to have a to-do list where I can mark off tasks I’ve accomplished as I go throughout the day.
These lists work for me because they are more flexible than time blocking, but they provide me with a roadmap of sorts for my day.
They help me at a glance what I need to prioritize. I usually only have three or four medium to big things on my to-do list for the day, and maybe some small, easy things.
Tip to try: Try using Post-it notes for your daily to-do list. The reason why I love Post-it notes is because they’re small, so you can’t fit too many tasks per day – which is great, because most people tend to overestimate what they can get done, then feel disappointed when they don’t accomplish it all.
Another reason Post-it notes are great for daily to-do lists is that you can stick them in different places! Stick them on your fridge, your mirror, your planner, or your phone, so you’ll see it often and stay focused on your tasks.
Master to-do lists are different from daily to-do lists. I like to think of master to-do lists as a brain dump of all the things in my life that need to get done.
Anytime something comes into your mind that needs to get done, put it on your master to-do list. You can review this to-do list every week or every day and pull the things that you could realistically get done in that time frame.
The Preparation List
Another type of list you can make, the Preparation List, will help you be prepared when a need arises, so you don’t have to think about it too hard in the moment.
For example, let’s say you realize you have 10 minutes before you have to leave for your dinner appointment. What could you possibly get done in 10 minutes?
Well, instead of spending mental energy trying to think of something, pull out the list you prepared, “Productive things you can do in 10-minute intervals,” and choose something.
If someone asks you what you want for your birthday, pull out “Gift ideas for myself.”
Get the picture? There are soooo many different preparation lists you could make, but I’ll start you off with a few ideas.
Ideas of lists you should make:
- Productive things you can do in 10-minute-intervals
- Productive things you can do when you have low energy
- Things to not do today
- Things to do for fun
- Walks to go on
- Recipes to try
- Books to read
- Books you’ve read recently (because my mind goes blank without fail whenever people ask me what I’ve been reading)
- Things to buy the next time you go to the store
- People to reach out to and connect with
- Shows or movies you want to watch (so you’re not scrolling through Netflix with no clue)
- Things you’ve been meaning to do (i.e. tasks that aren’t urgent, but it’d be nice to do them)
- Productive things you can do while your attention is divided (like when you’re talking on the phone or watching a movie, etc.)
- Gift ideas for others
- Gift ideas for yourself
- Meals to make this week
- Things to do instead of scrolling on your phone
- Goals for the month
- Clothing items to buy
- Things to tell your mom/grandma/friend on your next phone call with her
- Self-care activities to try
- Things to do on your next trip
- Pros and cons list for a decision you’re trying to make
- Date night or girls’ night ideas
- Things you’re grateful for
- Brainstorm of ideas for your budding business
Conclusion
There is quite literally no end to the amount of different lists you can make.
If you’ve noticed yourself feeling scatter-brained, mentally fatigued, disorganized, or unfocused, try making a list.
Start with a no-filter brain dump or a master to-do list – getting it out of your brain and onto paper. Then, go through and prioritize and plan your next steps.
If you’ve got some time, make a preparation list from the ideas I gave (or come up with your own ideas). I promise, it will save you a ton of time and energy in the long run.
Best of luck!
