The Power of List-Making
In the chaos of our daily lives, it's no wonder that many of us rely on various methods to stay organized. So how do I have it all together? (yeah. right.) By keeping comprehensive to-do lists. These lists have become an integral part of my life. While time consuming at first, they assist me in maintaining order, managing my time efficiently, and providing a clear roadmap to achieve my goals. They allow me to have everything in one place to keep my procrastination to a minimum.
The first step in my list-making process is to write down everything that needs to be done. By writing them down, I not only ensure that nothing is forgotten but also gain a tangible visual representation of my responsibilities. This process alone provides an immediate sense of relief and clarity, relieving the burden of constantly trying to remember everything.
After writing down all the tasks I need to accomplish, the next step is breaking them down into categories. The categories allow me to focus on one area at a time, preventing overwhelm and ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. My five main categories are:
Chores
House
Master to do
Kids
Work
Then I broke these lists down even more.
Today: These are items that have to get done that day. This varies day to day depending on outings, work, and the kids.
Chores: I break the chores list down by day. This way I don’t have to clean the house all at one and am able to knock out tasks when I have a few minutes to spare.
Morning Routine: This list is what I need to get done every morning to get out of the house. It may seem mundane, but I include everything from making the bed to brushing my teeth.
Evening Routine: Same thing as the morning routine, but this list contains what needs to be done before we all go to bed.
Master To Do: This list is my brain dump. It is a constant running list of what I need and want to get done and eventually it gets moved to other lists.
Home To Do: Home projects are never ending and this way as I see things, I can have what needs to be done in one place.
Menu: This list has my complete menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Grocery List
Shopping: I break this list down by each child, my husband, me, the house, etc. Anything that isn’t groceries goes here. If we need medicine, cleaning supplies, clothes, etc.
Diaper Bag: I repack our diaper bag every night. This way it is always stocked and I have what we need.
My Family Connection: This list is everything I need to do for work.
Dreams: This is a list of things that I aspire to do when I have some free time. These are activities that bring me joy and allow me to indulge in my passions. For example, I have been longing to compile all of my favorite recipes into a beautiful book, a project that requires time and creativity. This list serves as a reminder of the things I want to accomplish when the opportunity arises.
You can type these to do lists up, write them on paper, or keep them in an app. I personally love the reminders app for it. My phone is almost on me, so when I think of something it is easy to add to a list. If you choose a paper option, you can always put them in a sheet protector and use white board erase marker to mark things off. Choose what works best for you!
While having these lists are helpful for organization, the best part is checking things off that list. By allocating specific time slots for each task, we gain a clear sense of direction and prioritize our activities effectively. This scheduled approach ensures that no task is overlooked or procrastinated, leading to increased productivity and a greater sense of accomplishment. The key to this is to make these dates realistic. Know what you can realistically do so that you don’t set yourself up for failure.
I know. I know. It's a lot of lists, but I am telling you this system works! The beauty of lists lies in their ability to bring order to the chaos and provide a clear roadmap to success. By mapping out tasks, goals, and priorities, you will be able to effectively manage your time and focus your energy on what truly matters. Just take it one task at a time.
🤍 Charitie Carpenter, CFLE
