6 Lists to Improve your Life

We’ve all heard about making lists. A to-do list is something I write for myself daily. It gives me intentions, a purpose and simply outlines the next steps I need to take. However list-making can delve into many different facets of our lives, not just what we’re doing this week. This blog post is simply a few collated ideas of lists to make to simplify and improve your life - taking away the time wasted on procrastination or when you get stuck on what to do next!

1. Reading, Movies and Series Lists:
​This year, I wanted to become more intentional with the time I spent reading. I’m all for a fictional novel, however considering the limited time I have to actually sit down and read, I wanted to ensure that this time was spent wisely and productively. This year I’m mainly focusing on novels that can bring me more knowledge and awareness. It’s been a great way to boost my creativity and ideas too! As I set a goal to read 2-4 books a month, I knew that I needed to get specific on exactly WHAT books I was going to read. This is where my ‘book reading list’ came into action. It means that at the beginning of each month, I simply pick out the names of the few books from this list that I want to read during the month. I then find the books at my local library and place them near my bed. It’s pretty hard to ignore a goal when you have the physical books sitting on your bedside! I’ve created similar lists for movies and series that have been recommended to me, it means that I’m able to spend my free time a little more wisely and intentionally. Besides, much like ticking off a task from my to-do list, it feel great to tick off another series, film or novel!

2. 'Not-To-Do' List:
​It’s easy to become overwhelmed with everything on your plate. However, with a little prioritisation, things have the potential to become a lot more manageable. This is exactly where my ‘Not-To-Do List’ came in handy. Rather than being a list of things you’ll really never do, it’s designed as a list of things to ‘come back to later’ or that simply just ‘aren’t a priority’. It’s the perfect place for pipe dreams, future ideas or purchases you wish to make in the future. However at this current point in time, they aren’t of immediate priority. Having a list like this is super reassuring to anyone who hates forgetting things, or someone who has creative bursts and ideas. It’s a place to write them down, and almost release them to a safe place where yo I can come back to them when the time is right. You might find things sit in this list for a while, however you might be surprised when you suddenly have the opportunity to tick off something from this list. Things on my to-do list may include ‘return forms’ which I have months to complete or even to ‘buy silk pajamas’! I like to review this list every week as a part of my Sunday GYST just to see if I can transfer anything from my ‘Not To Do List’ to my ‘To Do List’.

3. 'Before You Leave Home' List:
​If you don’t have the best of memory or you’re always that person who leaves something at home, this list is super helpful! Some people have more of a ‘forgetry’ than a ‘memory’ - as my grandmother would say - and there is nothing wrong with that! But there certainly is something you can do to help. Write this simple list outlining the things you need to commonly take, do or put together before you leave home. This could expand from ‘grab glasses’ to ‘lock front door’ etc. It’s easy to forget small tasks like that when everything is super busy, and you can even lose touch with habits you’ve had for years! Keep this simple list near the door or where you store your car keys so you can quickly work through it on your way out!

4. Packing List:
​This seems simple, but it’s amazing how many people haven’t considered writing a packing list. At the end of the day, the list of items we pack for ourselves when travelling is pretty similar every trip. Commonly, it’s only the season of clothing that changes! Construct a simply packing list to remind you of all your essentials to  pack. This makes the process a lot easier and it requires a whole lot less brain power! Besides, it’s also a great way to ensure you have put everything back into your bags at the end of the trip to prevent yourself from leaving items behind!

5. 'Project Action' List:
​We all have things we do routinely. For me, it’s writing a blog post or working through my Sunday GYST, because I know I’m repeating that process regularly I’ve constructed a Project Action list that breaks down what each ‘project’ will require of me. For example, my Sunday GYST project action list is what became the basis of the Sunday GYST printable. I simply listed every task or component of the project I need to complete in an orderly fashion. I’ve realised that even when writing a blog post, it’s easy for me to dive in and then get stuck half way. However having this list to fall back on reminds me of my next step and the logical process that will almost guarantee the success of me completing the project. For you, you may have to commonly write reports at work, or specific emails to clients. Having a list of actionable tasks in order of how you need to complete them enables you to always know where you’re heading.

6. ‘Someone’s Coming Over’ Cleaning List:
If you haven’t checked out my last blog post, I highly recommend it. There is a free printable included which breaks down a general cleaning checklist into daily (AM/PM), weekly and monthly tasks. However if you would prefer to make this a little more personal to you, a cleaning checklist in general is always a good idea. We all have those days where someone calls to say they’ll be popping around for coffee unexpectedly and all of a sudden we get ourselves all flustered. Suddenly the floor seems extremely dirty, the washing pile enlarged itself and we end up rehearsing our apologies for how ‘messy our house looks’. Save your breath by writing a simple checklist of things to clean which will only take you 10-15 minutes to complete but that will reduce the stress of how you feel about your home. These things may include quickly vacuuming the main rooms, giving the bathroom a quick wipe, cleaning the toilets, clearing away the dishes etc. Simple, surface-level tasks that mean that when your unexpected guest arrives you can welcome them with a smile (not a grimace)!

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Excuse the incoming swear word, but there is a great website called ‘UnFuck Your Habitat’ which gives you a hand with simple cleaning lists, tips, tricks and even challenges to help you! It’s a seriously cool site which is fun, light-hearted but also super helpful! 

Lists really can reduce a lot of stress, thought processing time and worry. These were just a few ideas of lists I’ve found useful and effective, however perhaps you have some ideas I haven’t heard of yet! Share them with us by leaving a comment in the comment section of this post! 

Thanks for popping in! 

From our home to yours,