Do you make lists?

[Kotuy]

I've always kept a diary / calendar / paper list/s for both home and work. This is how I've organised my time and it does the job in that I'm not someone who will forget to meet a friend or forget to go to tip. I'm older and don't use tech for diarising appointments etc preferring pen and paper. Now happily retired.

Currently I have a big list (60 items) of To Do things. This can range from a holiday idea to replacing sealant in my kitchen - things that I dump on the list and they might get done one day, but they're on the list to remind me until I do them or decide they're no longer relevant and cross off.

Then there's a Today list of what I will / need to do today or soon - dentist appointment, phone sister, check insurance quotes. I don't put things like wash hair, walk dog, exercise as theyre just part of my day.

I guess I'm giving too much time & energy to these lists yet realise they must give me some sort of security as I've been doing it this way for years. It's doing no harm, though taking up time and I'd feel lost without my lists.

Anyone identify with this? Or found a better way?

I have work lists in my diary, shopping lists on Alexa and I've just started using the Finch app to gamify daily to-dos. I love your big list idea - stealing that!

I have a big list - on a word doc - and a today list, handwritten on a notepad, too, Kotuy. They keep me on track/sane, so I definitely identify with what you do. I'm an externaliser, & I think that's the lists' purpose. They help me remember to do things and they order my chaotic, rushing mind! I thought for a while that I should not need them, like it was a failing to, but now I accept them as a 'me' thing. I've thought about using different/better ways eg apps, but I enjoy the notepad & pen - I like the feel of manual writing. It was better for big list to be on Word, tho, as it's long (with sub-headings) and long-term, as I imagine yours will be. Listing can be an ADHD coping strategy & DS has diagnosed ADHD, & since reading all about it for him, suspect I might have it, so think my listing might be to do with that.

Edit: also have rolling work 'to do' list on Word, which I'd be lost without.

on a day off I’ll sometimes make a list so that I do everything I want to do, need to do, and some of the nice if I get them done. Same for work. Every so often I’ll sit DH down and we’ll agree a list of things needed for the house., like stuff that needs fixed.

i also have a lot of lists in my head but they don’t happen till I put them down on paper…like holidays wish lists.

I like a list. I like the structure and also that I can tick of stuff and arrange my day a bit. I Dustin retirement I’ll use them more.

I’m a lists girl. I run on 2 lists. One for time critical things and a “when l get round to it” list. On the latter l add and cross through (but don’t fully delete) as l go. You’d be surprised how often l refer back to it.

I’m making one now! I love a list.

I couldn't manage without lists.
Make dozens a year.
Sometimes I even remember to look at them.;)

I also have certain things I make for work that require a certain amount of output each day. For those I have checkboxes. Those are deeply deeply satisfying to check off.

It's such a good feeling to cross a task off a list. Sometimes, if I'm about to do a tedious chore, I add it to the list just so that I can have the satisfaction of crossing it off afterwards. Tragic.

I have three lists!

A weekly to do list, for all things household.

A list of jobs related to my PhD, not necessarily time dependent.

And, a list of tasks related to my job. I then use this list to plan my working week and set specific tasks for specific days.

It works for me and means I am organised and don’t spend half my life faffing around.

List fiend here
Use my phone a lot now as it’s always with me so can add things as I remember
Then have a work list kept at work .
Also a large desk diary with week to week things and helpful for forward planning and things that have to be done on specific dates
Couldn’t function without lists - have always been a list person
On the other hand my husband has no idea when things like house insurance due or car tax however he works in an extremely intensive time sensitive role so I have no idea how he manages things !

I have two lists for work (to do and this week) and two lists for home (similar). All written on paper. This system works for me and I'm not planning to change it!

I am a list person.

One for the small business I run, one for house & garden stuff, one for things associated with a shared hobby and other ad hoc ones like a holiday packing list or things to take to the tip.

All on paper, I enjoy crossing things off with a pen.

All the time.
Shopping lists.
To do lists, daily, monthly.
Goals for the house.
Personal goals.
Ideas for holidays/ days out etc
What I’ve bought various kids for gifts over the years.
Expenses & monthly breakdowns
Financial goals.

I used to work from back to front in a dairy or notebook for lists but not it’s all the iPhone notes app.

Yes I’ve always had lists, recently been diagnosed with ADHD and realised it’s a bit of a coping mechanism for me. If I don’t have a list I feel very overwhelmed with everything in my head, seeing it written down helps me focus.

I have to-do lists for work every day, every new years day I have a list of things I want to achieve and then I break it down into every 3 months, every month or sometimes weekly so I don’t get overwhelmed. It’s definitely helped me get everything done that I want to!

I have lists similar to others - immediate and longer term. My mum was also a list person, when she died and we cleared the house it was like a window into the minutiae of her life, all, literally, on the back on an envelope. I’ve kept some as they are such a link to the real her, quite moving.

Absolutely love lists! I tend not to use my phone for them, preferring pen & paper, although I send myself texts with reminders every so often. These are my current lists:-
Weekly Meal Plans
Ideas To Do Up The Summerhouse
People To Send Christmas Cards To
Ideas To Continue Celebrating My 60th
Things To Buy For House/Garden
Things That Need Doing In House/Garden
Items To Value/Sell At A Vintage & Antiques Day
Friends To Catch Up With
Items To Post On Vinted

I made several lists during The Pandemic & it really helped to make me feel in control.

I've found my tribe! And feel so reassured that others like me exist. Melarus I also add tasks Im about do, if they're not already on the list, to have the satisfaction of crossing them off 😳

I'm surprised also that so many of you still use pen and paper. Feeling ridiculously comforted by the knowledge that I'm not a solitary weirdo list maker.