Need ideas for lists to make to help you be more organized? You’re in the right place!
I am a list making fanatic!
On any given evening, you can find me sitting at my desk making a list of things that I want to get done for the following day. In fact, pinned to my bulletin board currently are lists for blog post ideas, groceries to buy, and emails to send out. And of course, my daily to do list.
Maybe it’s the feeling of being able to check things off of my paper lists that motivates me, or maybe I make lists out of sheer necessity, because I’m so dang busy!
But whatever the case may be, I find that lists help me to stay on top of things and be more productive with the limited time that I do have.
If you feel overwhelmed by your daily schedule, the household chores that are piling up, or all of the things that you’re trying to remember to do, then maybe you should try making lists! Here’s a bunch of ideas for lists to make and how writing out lists can benefit you:
The Benefits of Making Lists
So why should you make lists, besides of course to help remember things? Here are some of the benefits of list making:
Lists help you prioritize your time
Let’s face it… we all have a limited amount of time. So it’s important to use the time that we do have wisely.
Making lists can help you establish a solid plan for your time so that you spend less of it wondering what to do next. And even “fun lists” can save you time… Just think about how many hours you’ve wasted trying to figure out what to watch on Netflix. Hmm… maybe you should make a list for that!
Lists help you not forget
Raise your hand if you feel like your mind is constantly going 100 miles an hour, trying to remember everything that you have to do for the day or things that you can’t forget to buy at the grocery store.
Written lists can help you keep track of everything on your mental lists so that important events, appointments, or to-do’s don’t get forgotten. Writing your to-do list down each day or week will give you something to reference so you won’t have to worry about constantly trying to recall things from memory.
Making lists gives your brain a break!
Lists help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed
According to Psychology Today, making lists can help you feel “pro-active, grounded, calm and clear”, and it can also reduce anxiety. Channeling the flood of information in your mind (like upcoming work assignments, errands to run, and the areas of your home that need to be cleaned) into lists can help you feel more organized and better able to tackle everything that you must do.
List Making Tools
When you’re making lists, the most important thing to have is somewhere to actually record the list items. A mental list is, of course, an option… but trying to constantly run through things that you have to get done or things that you need to buy in your mind can cause you to be less present for those around you.
That’s why I LOVE doing brain dumps! A brain dump is a way to get everything out of your mind and on to paper, usually in some sort of list format.
Here are some ideas for where to write your lists:
Planner or Bullet Journal
If you already use a planner or bullet journal, then consider writing your lists down there so that everything is together and easily accessible.
A paper planner is also great if you don’t want to fool with an app or a digital planner. I currently use the Happy Planner, and I’m a BIG fan! The layouts are functional with plenty of space to write, and the accessories and planner stickers are super cute!
And with the Happy Planner, you can easily add in printable to do list templates like the ones I have for you at the end of this post!
Printable List Templates
A printable list template is an awesome way to keep track of your lists. You can simply print the template and add it to your planner, hang it on your fridge, or keep it in your purse for when you’re on the go and need to reference it.
I’ve got a TON of awesome list and planning templates for you here:
- Monthly Planning in 4 Easy Steps – Plus FREE Monthly Plan Templates
- How to Create a Weekly Plan – Plus FREE Printable Planner Template
- 23 Things to Add to Your Monthly To Do List (Free Printable Checklist!)
*And be sure to check out my free printable to do lists at the end of this post!
List Making Apps
If you like the convenience of having everything in the palm of your hand when you’re on the go, then a list making app may be the best tool for you. You can check out some of the best list making apps here!
Sticky Notes or Notepads
Even something as simple as a Post-It note or a small spiral notebook is great for making lists… especially shorter, everyday lists like grocery lists or a list of errands to run for the day.
Colored Pens for List Making
If you’re going to be writing your lists in a planner or bullet journal, then you’ll need some good pens! And for me, there’s no better motivation to stick to your list making than some cute new colored pens. (Kind of like a new workout outfit can finally motivate you to stick to your walking schedule!)
The benefit of using colored pens for making your lists is that you can color-code them… For instance, on your list of things to buy for the week, you could write everything you need to get from Target in pink and everything from Costco in green.
I recently tested 12 different colored pens to see which ones were the best. You can check out the results and my favorite pens here: The Best Pens for Planners – And I Tried Them All!
80+ Lists to Make When You’re Overwhelmed
If you want to try list making, you may be wondering how to get started. Here are some ideas for lists to make to help you organize your life, be more productive, and feel less overwhelmed:
My Top 5 Lists to Make
Okay, I get it… who has time to make 80 different lists?! Which is why I’m including this section first…
If I could ONLY pick 5 lists to make, these would make the cut. These are the lists that I personally use that I couldn’t live without:
- List of goals for each month
- Passwords list – I’ve got an awesome free printable password tracker you can use here!
- Work related to-do list – My personal work to-do list is a big old list of blog post ideas, but your work to-do list will be specific to your job. Maybe it includes work emails to send, specific work-related tasks to be completed each week, etc.
- Income, expenses, and daily spending list – This is how I keep track of every single penny that my family spends and earns, so that I can see where our money is going and how much we are saving each month. I actually use this Budget Spreadsheet to list every single financial transaction that we have, organized by month. It has been a GAME CHANGER for our finances!
- Weekly plan and to-do list – I would be lost without my general weekly planning list! This is the list template that I use to plan my entire week, complete with a main goal and the top 3 things that I want to get done each day! *You can read more about how to start weekly planning here, and grab this free printable weekly plan template!
To-Do Lists to Help You Be More Productive
- Master to do list – Think of a master to do list as a giant running list of things to do, from cleaning tasks to errands to phone calls to make.
- Things you need to get done each day – I like to make a daily to-do list at the end of every weekday, so I don’t waste time the next day wondering what to do next.
- List of weekly priorities – Make a list of things that you absolutely MUST get done each week.
- Work-related tasks to do
- Errands for the week – Write down a list of places you must go each week (dry cleaners, bank, post office, etc).
- Brain dump lists – You can find out how to do a brain dump and grab these free printable brain dump worksheets here!
- Procrastination list – Write a list of all of the things that you’ve been putting off, and commit to getting one of the things done each day or each week.
- Morning routine list
- Evening routine list
- Calls to make
- Emails to send
- Honey-do list – List of things for your husband to do
Important Dates and Reminder Lists
- List of family and friends’ birthdays
- List of important dates organized by month – anniversaries, important school events, etc
- List of things to do on the first day of every month – I’ve got some awesome ideas for things to add to your monthly to do list plus free printable templates here!
- “The last time I …” lists – Last time I changed the air filters, changed toothbrush heads, changed the sheets, dates of last period, etc.
- Packages that are due to be delivered – Since we order so many things online (from a random kitchen utensil to summer reading books for my daughter), I never know which days to expect a package. I like to make a list of the expected delivery dates so I know when to make sure our dog is inside the house.
- Parties and social events – Keep track of RSVPs to send and important details of social events such as time, location, attire, and where the guest of honor is registered.
Lists to Make to Organize Your Finances
- Financial accounts list – Write down a list of bank account and investment account numbers, as well as usernames and passwords for online access… and be sure to keep the list in a safe place!
- List of all of your monthly bills and when each is due – I’ve got an awesome free printable bill tracker you can use here!
- List of daily transactions
- Contributions to your savings account – Get motivated to reach your savings goal!
- Charitable contributions or donations made – You’ll be glad that you kept track of these when tax time comes around!
- Work-related expenses – So that you can easily find deductions for your tax return!
- List of things you can do to save money
Medical and Health Related Lists to Make
- Emergency contacts list
- List of medical appointments – Be sure to include specific details about each visit like the doctor’s name, date of the appointment, reason for the appointment, things discussed, etc.
- List of medications for each of your family members
- List of foods and calories consumed each day – I have done this in the past to lose weight, and you would be amazed at how much better your diet is when you have to actually write down what you eat.
- Sleep tracker list – Running list of the times that you go to bed and when you wake up with total sleep times for each night.
- List of favorite healthy snacks and meals
- List of healthy habits that you want to work on – These could include drinking 8 glasses of water per day, walking around your neighborhood each night, getting a set number of hours of sleep, etc.
Meal Planning and Meal Ideas Lists
- List of restaurants that deliver to your home
- List of favorite restaurants for take-out – You could also make notes about which offer curbside pickup and your family members’ orders for each restaurant!
- List of restaurants where kids eat free – I have this list in the “Notes” app on my iPhone. Be sure to include the days of the week when kids eat free also!
- Family favorite meals
- List of healthy foods to always have on hand
- Meals to make when guests come for dinner – I keep a list of my favorite meals to cook when I’m hosting family and friends in the “Notes” app of my phone. Whenever I try another dish that I love, I add it to my list!
- List of meal ideas for dinner – Check out my HUGE printable list of dinner ideas and some super cute meal planners here!
- New recipes you want to try
- List of foods expiring soon – Make a list of things in your fridge or freezer that need to be eaten ASAP before they expire. Then, use that list to meal plan for the upcoming week so you have less waste.
Shopping Lists and Things to Buy
- List of things to buy on Amazon
- Gift ideas for family and friends – Throughout the year, you may have a gift idea that would be perfect for a specific person. Add it to your gift ideas list so you don’t forget it when Christmas or birthdays roll around!
- Gifts that you’ve already purchased – Some people like to buy Christmas or birthday gifts throughout the year to take advantage of sales and to help spread out the cost. Keep a list of gifts that have already been purchased so you don’t forget and buy duplicates.
- Master grocery list – List of groceries and household items that are staples or must-haves for your family. You can read all about creating a master grocery list and grab a printable list to use here!
- List of your favorite wines or other beverages – If you’re a wine drinker, it can be difficult to remember exactly which are your favorites.
- Clothing and shoe sizes for each of your family members
- Shopping lists separated by store – What to buy at Costco, grocery store, Target, etc
Lists to Make to Help with Household Management
- Pantry inventory list
- Fridge inventory list
- Freezer inventory list – Go here for a free printable freezer inventory checklist and get tips for how to organize your freezer!
- Contact info for friends and family members that you often invite over
- Card and announcements list – List of addresses for friends and family that you send holiday cards or formal announcements (like birth announcements, graduation announcements, etc)
- List of areas in your home that need to be decluttered and organized
- List of chores you want your kids to complete
- Cleaning checklists organized by room – Like these super cute kitchen cleaning checklists!
- Packing lists – If you travel frequently, you can make a list of things to include in your carry on bag, toiletries to pack, etc.
- List of home maintenance jobs to do every month or every quarter
- Car maintenance log – Write down a list of maintenance performed, which car was worked on, date of service, total cost, where the service was done, etc.
- Cleaning jobs to do each week
- Your kids’ school or extracurricular activities schedules in list form
Fun Lists to Make When You’re Bored
Not all lists have to be productivity driven or loaded down with daily responsibilities! Here are some fun lists to make when you’re bored or you want to keep track of things you can do in your free time, like Netflix shows to watch or books to read:
- Streaming shows you want to watch (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc)
- Books you want to read
- Favorite motivational quotes – One of my favorites is “Dreams don’t work unless you do.“
- Podcasts you want to listen to
- Date night ideas – You can find a HUGE list of 94 creative date night ideas here!
- New restaurants you want to try
- Cities you want to visit
- List of resolutions – Kind of like New Year’s Resolutions, except you don’t forget about them by January 3rd!
- Movies you want to watch with your family
- Things you want to do before you reach a specific age – For instance, “40 Things to Do Before Turning 40“
- List of daily affirmations
- Things you love about your spouse
- Songs to add to your playlists
- Random things that make you happy
- Funny things your kids say
- List of things you can get for free on your birthday
- List of your favorite blogs to read
- Things you’re grateful for – A gratitude list, much like a gratitude journal, has a TON of health benefits!
- Favorite bible verses
- Bucket lists – We like to make a bucket list for each season and add fun family activities that we want to do together. We even let our daughters pick out things to add to the lists!
- Your own personal wish list – Things you want to buy yourself, like a new makeup product you want to try.
- A list of lists to make – Like this one!
Free To Do List Printable
Want to grab some free printable to do lists to help with your list making? When you sign up for my free email newsletter, you’ll get access to my entire library of FREE printables as a gift! I’ve got over 60 super cute printable resources in there, including these printable to do list templates:
Just use the form below to sign up and I’ll send you the to do lists as a Welcome gift!
And don’t forget to PIN this post for later:
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