I love lists. I enjoy reading other people's blogs about lists and writing my own lists. Whether or not you feel the same, I'm sure a list or two below could help you declutter your mind and improve your life.
By lists for decluttering your mind, I mean, stop trying to remember stuff and put it down on paper instead.
Ok, let's get to it... and... WRITE!
THE LIST OF LISTS TO DECLUTTER YOUR MIND
Habits you want to work on - Get all your expectations out of your head and make a list. Tackle them as you can and be gracious with yourself. Habit forming takes time.
Challenges to try - I feel great about myself when I complete a challenge. Usually mine are a month long with something I have to do every day (aka 30 day challenges like this one and this one). Maybe try a 30 day declutter challenge or a 30 day list challenge writing a list from this list every day!
Shopping list - Stop trying to remember everything you are out of and make a list before you head to the store. This will also help you save money if you challenge yourself stick to the list.
Wishlist - When I realize there is a low priority item I want to buy or a high priced thing I want, I put it on my wish list. Sometimes I end up buying myself the item later when I decide I really want it, or I save it to ask for on my birthday or Christmas. But this habit alone makes me way happier with my purchases and has saved me from many impulse buys.
Life goals - Think about the most important things you want to be and do in life and make a list. This will help you plan, act, grow, and be better.
Year goals - Pick a few goals each year and put them in a place you'll check them often. Track them and push yourself to accomplish them. Maybe declutter your home needs to go on this list! Also, you don't have to wait for January 1 to make this list. Write it today and pick an end date for each goal. Do what you can with the time you have. Here are some great tips for goal setting and my step-by-step, make your own annual decluttering plan!
Month goals - Break your yearly goals down into monthly goals so they are doable. Or add a new goal for a specific month if you learn something new. Be the type of person who goes after what you want.
Daily goals - These are habits you are working on now. This may also look like your daily routine. Write them down and do them every day. Then go back to your "Habits you want to work on" list and add another one once your current daily goals are solid.
People to contact regularly - I find that if I don't write down or schedule in when I should call the important people in my life, I simply don't. So make a list of the people you want to contact regularly (mom, dad, bff, grandma), how you'll do it (phone, video call, in person, text), when (every Friday, after work on the drive home, the 1st Sunday of teach month), and then DO IT. Your relationships will grow and improve, trust me.
Things you're saving money for - If you want to buy something you can't afford, you'll have to save for it. And in order to save for it, you have to write it down and track your savings. You can do this in your bank's website/app, on an excel sheet, or on paper, but write it down and start putting money into savings. You'll be happy you started now.
Books you've read/want to read - Especially if you want to improve your reading habit, this is a perfect list for you. Set a monthly or yearly reading goal, then start writing down those books! Check out some great reads here.
Movies you want to watch - While I enjoy writing down the books I've already read, I don't recommend that for movies unless you REALLY want to. It can become a bit overwhelming, but I do keep a list of movies and shows that I saw a trailer for or something and want to watch later.
Last time I... - This is more of a tracker than a list. But I have found it very helpful. The idea is you write down the things you do or want to do regularly, but that aren't super frequent (such as deep cleaning the fridge or getting your hair cut). Then you write down the date next to each one when you do it so you can see when the last time you did it was. If you haven't cleaned the fridge in over 6 months, you can see that and add it to your to-do list.
Daily to-do's - This is the most common list I think besides a shopping list. This is your list of things you are going to try to get done today. You can have a daily sticky note you throw away before bed, a note on your phone that you constantly add to and delete from, or (like me) a bullet journal where you move to the next page each day. One important thing I've learned is to make sure not to overwhelm myself by having one massive to-do list. That's why this is called a daily to-do list and not just a to-do list. Make it for today and leave the rest somewhere else...
Month to-do's- This is where you can put tasks that you don't plan to do today, but you do need to get done soon. When you have a free afternoon or on a Sunday, look at this list and see what you can tackle.
Long term to-do's - This is where you can put non-urgent, less important tasks. You don't want to completely forget about it, but it's not a priority this month.
Things to pack - Instead of wondering if you forgot anything as you're driving off into the sunset, why not make a list first and then pack it. If you've packed for a certain kind of trip loads of times and know your list by heart, skip the list, but if you're unsure... write it out, pack it up, then relax.
Things to take - I like to make a list not only for vacations and trips, but also for daily or weekly outings. For example, I noticed that I kept walking out the door to head to the gym and forgetting something I needed. So now I have a sticky note on my desk with all the things not to forget: hair tie, phone, earbuds, notebook, pen, water bottle, protein drink, tennis shoes, & keys. Now I run through the list before heading out and I feel confident and ready to get moving every time.
Digital rules - I'm going to use the example of digital tech/screen use, but you can make a list of rules for yourself for just about anything. As I was learning about Digital Minimalism, I decided I needed to make some rules for myself so that I would use screens less. Of course sometimes I still break my own rules, but they are a guide that helps me know what is a healthy use of my time, and what is not.
Self care / quality rest activities you enjoy - When you are having a bad day, having a list of easy things you can do to lift your mood or help you destress is very handy. Write it somewhere you can see it and then do something on the list whenever you are starting to feel sad, stressed, angry, sick, bored, or just meh.
Gratitude - This list is not something you should just write once and then forget. Writing things your grateful for is an amazing daily or weekly habit. The more you think about what you are grateful for, the happier and more content you will be. Plus it's an important component in decluttering & simplifying too.
Read my post "The List of Lists for Decluttering Your Home" to not only declutter your mind, but also your home too!
Comment your favorite list idea (or tell me about a list of your own you find helpful).
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