Lists help So You Don’t Feel Overwhelmed
It can be a real challenge to keep all of our thoughts, tasks, and to-do’s sorted and stored in our heads.
God created an incredible machine, our brain. However, I don’t feel it was meant to retain so much information AND be able to keep it all organized.
Have you ever experienced forgetting things or feeling you didn’t complete as much as you thought you could?
Lists that organize our tasks and time can help us to be very efficient! Eliminate overwhelm and get your thoughts organized!
List ideas that may help you if you aren’t sure where to start:
RELATED POST: Organize Lists and Complete Them!
HOME
It seems like there is always something that needs to be completed around the home. Whether it is day to day tasks or home projects, it can get overwhelming thinking about all that needs to be done. Trying to remember what each family member has asked you to help with or remembering all the details with a project can be overwhelming.
Here are some example lists:
- Grocery list – It can be ongoing during the week with family members adding to it.
- Errands – Examples include oil change, wash car, pick up at store.
- Home Projects
- Party Planning
- Seasonal Tasks
- Housework Tasks
- Organizing Projects
- Purchases Made
- Bills to Pay
When you are creating your list do not leave anything off that comes to mind. You may have tasks come up that you really want to do but you are worried about putting it on a list. Don’t worry about it. Even if you put something on a list doesn’t mean you have to do it, but it will at least take the thought from your mind that is overwhelmed and on paper.
Lists can keep our mind focused and clear!
WORK
When we are at home, we may think about what needs to be done at work. When we are at work, we may think about what needs to be done at home.
This can be very distracting!
You have already completed the home lists, and you can always add to them, now create a list for work. This may be ongoing too.
Here are some example lists:
- Group projects and the steps
- Personal projects and the steps
- Meetings and what’s needed for them
- Travel and the Plans
- Book ideas and outlines
- People to connect with
- Networking Groups
- Social Media Posts and Ideas
- Business Ideas
ACTIVITIES
When we aren’t working or doing home tasks, we have extra activities. Whether it our children’s schedules, or an additional project or activities we like to do, we need a way to keep it all straight.
Obviously a calendar is helpful to manage the scheduling when it comes to activities. However there are other lists that will help you when it comes to activities you and your family do.
Here are some example lists:
- Bucket List for the Year
- Supplies Needed for Outings
- Weekly Family Activities
- Vacation Activities
- Summer Classes and Camps
With activities you can make a list to brainstorm your needs and ideas, then once you decide what your plan is get it on the calendar.
Whether it’s online, on your phone or a paper planner, making your schedule available to the whole family will help to eliminate the possibility of double planning or forgetting something.
When planning activities, consider not stressing about having to do everything you placed on your list. A to-do list can also be like a brainstorming list. Then you pick the best from the list.
Making lists can get the creative solutions flowing, getting all of you ideas out of your head and on paper. Have fun picking what you want to follow through on!
Thoughts
This type of list is more of a free flowing list. A thought list is perfect for your work day or when you have something you need to be fully focused on.
Having a piece of paper next to you while you are working will give you the ability to write down any non-related thought to the task at hand. If you think about how you need to call someone, look up something for a trip, purchase that widget, write it all down on your thought list.
Then, when you have a break or at the end of the day, you can look at the list and decide what you want to do from it.
CONCLUSION
Using lists as a way to track your activity, or to brainstorm ideas, will keep the mental clutter out of your mind and on paper.
It can be exhausting trying to remember all you need to do. Whether you like using paper to make lists or digitally, like on your phone, making lists will help you to stay organized.
I believe in you.
Love,
Angela, The Unclutter Angel
