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Original poster

Is it normal to write lists every day?

113 replies

Collagenmeeverywhere · 03/11/2023 18:29

On my notes on my phone, I have daily things needed to be done, generally a week or two in advance. Things are written for each day, food shopping, call insurance, ballet with Dd etc. I then have a list for the food shop and meals made that week. Is this normal, do you do this or is it over the top? I would like to just be list free I think, but I just can’t.
I’m a teacher (not full time or a class teacher anymore) but spent so many years of my life with daily/monthly/termly plans, that I think it just became part of me.
It just feels quite boring to be so structured, is it uptight? Sometimes I even find myself putting ‘Wash hair’ on the list, that’s weird right? 😬

OP posts:
MafsisNafsbutcompelling · 03/11/2023 19:12

Are you asking in case you are worried you are adhd?

Manadou · 03/11/2023 19:09

@Milliemoos5 - I feel that a list, once written, frees me from a routine thing and I can be free.

Milliemoos5 · 03/11/2023 19:05

Hahahah Noooo, nothing wrong with that at all! Some peoples personality type thrive on stucture, planning, routine etc and others, like me, feel completely suffocated by all of that!

whatever works best for your life, go for it! There is always going to be people similar to you and people opposite to you

ChocolateCinderToffee · 03/11/2023 19:04

I love lists. If you write it down, you don't have to carry it all about in your head. I quite often write the next day's list when I go to bed. I also sometimes ignore it the next day.

Zoraflora · 03/11/2023 19:03

Yes I have loads of lists, shopping, to do and loads of random ones like christmas /birthday present ideas etc

For me if something comes into my head I get it on my list before it leaves my head and Im racking my brain trying to remember!

Manadou · 03/11/2023 19:02

Collagenmeeverywhere · 03/11/2023 18:57

Phew ok 😅

I sometimes want to have no lists though..just a spontaneous life of what will happen next? But I think I’d have to plan that too…somehow 😂

  1. Wake up.
  2. Breakfast
  3. Do some spontaneous things
  4. Dinner
  5. Repeat 3
  6. Tea
  7. Repeat 3
  8. Cocoa and biscuits
  9. Bed
FourChimneys · 03/11/2023 19:01

I have at least two on the go all the time. Family/home/domestic stuff and another for my business.

Sometimes a third one for longer term planning.

Large Post Its are my favourite medium.

Original poster
Collagenmeeverywhere · 03/11/2023 18:57

Phew ok 😅

I sometimes want to have no lists though..just a spontaneous life of what will happen next? But I think I’d have to plan that too…somehow 😂

OP posts:
VelvetUndergrounds · 03/11/2023 18:56

I have at least one list on the go every day - when I go on holiday/away for any occasion whatsoever, I never have any stress as I have a list for every single occasion - yes, I'm smug. 😂

Manadou · 03/11/2023 18:54

We had a weird issue with an item on a list that DH wrote once, which was that neither of us read what it was. We tried brainstorming and came up with quite a few things for a new list, so not all bad in the end. Never did decipher the puzzle item.

bellac11 · 03/11/2023 18:53

I send myself a daily whatsapp of things to do/book/buy/cook

I also regularly re send myself the list of holiday bookings/weekends away/nights out whatever because I cant remember what we're doing

We have now bought a calendar but I bet I dont look at it

Cheepcheepcheep · 03/11/2023 18:53

Caitlin Moran has a great bit in her book More Than A Woman where she talks about how being an adult woman essentially means you start every day sitting on the loo reading The List. I’ll see if I can find it.

DRS1970 · 03/11/2023 18:52

I do this to reduce stress and anxiety. I tend to think if it as a useful tool, rather than normal or not.

Livingoncaffeine · 03/11/2023 18:52

I do this. My boyfriend thinks I’m mad but I find it really helps me. That said I did love not having a list when we were on holiday recently, so since they I have tried to reduce the amount of lists I make but it is slowly creeping up again

Manadou · 03/11/2023 18:52

timoteigirl · 03/11/2023 18:51

This is great because when you don't need to remember everything then that frees your brain for whatever task on hand.

We get through a lot of Post-Its, and with a sharp pencil you can get a lot of things on one!

timoteigirl · 03/11/2023 18:51

This is great because when you don't need to remember everything then that frees your brain for whatever task on hand.

TruJay · 03/11/2023 18:50

I love a bloody list. My mum always wrote lists when we were kids and still does now. Assume I do it because mum did. I still prefer a handwritten list too even though they can be easily done on your phone. Definitely think you’re either a list writer or you’re not, no inbetween.

Manadou · 03/11/2023 18:50

This is my shopping list in Excel, or rather a part of it. It has 4 identical columns so will last for 4 weeks. I print out a blank one when the old one is finished. In consultation DH and I decide which things to tick, then it gets folded up and put in a little clear plastic envelope the kind they used to sell for blank CDs (we have a pack of them). The 'stores' can be 'Either', 'M &S' or'Tesco'.

Is it normal to write lists every day?
Woollyjumpersandtomatosoupweather · 03/11/2023 18:50

Love a good "to do" list ❤️: work/shopping/DMs shopping/family life admin/DMs life admin. It's the only way to retain my sanity!

Himawarigirl · 03/11/2023 18:49

My family would fall apart without my lists, no one would have clothes, shoes, birthday presents, dentist appointments, visits to family, bigger stuff than that and smaller, literally anything and everything!

Lifeinlists · 03/11/2023 18:49

Yep. See my username!!Grin

MsFogi · 03/11/2023 18:47

Totally normal! I have a daily list (for stuff that needs to be done every day), weekly, monthly, yearly lists, a Christmas prep list, tasks and projects lists. Not to mention the packing lists....

heatdeath · 03/11/2023 18:44

Of course it is!

Changingplace · 03/11/2023 18:44

Yeah I do this, I have reminders in my phone calendar for regular appointments and deadlines and lists for everything else.

Barnowlsandbluebells · 03/11/2023 18:44

I rarely write lists because I can't be bothered and never revisit them.