Is it normal to write lists every day?

[Collagenmeeverywhere]

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? 😬

I can’t work without lists. How else do you remember everything that needs to be done? My dh says I never met a notebook I didn’t like as I’m always buying new ones to accommodate future lists and I carry one everywhere. My nightmare is not having anywhere to write stuff down. I don’t think it’s abnormal, it’s just how I work. Dh doesn’t use lists and forgets everything.

Lists are a very normal way of coping with life.

DM was always going on about her lists.

I generally don't like lists. They have the fundamental flaw that assumes that you actually thought of everything that you needed at the time in order to be useful. They're too linear. They're not satisfying when your attention span fucks off and leaves things hanging or procrastination kicks in. You have to sort your thoughts out to be able to list, which might mean brain-dumping, then mind-mapping to even get to the stage of writing a coherent list
I have recently found a method that I quite like which is just writing 3 items. Do #1, and add #4, do#2, and add #5 etc. It stops the list turning into great streams of over-ambitious, demoralising, unachievable conciousness.

For time based things like appointments, I tend to use my phone calendar with reminders set to preparation time. Sometimes an alarm for a regular scheduled event such as weekly Scouts pick-up.
Food shopping, I do visually in the supermarket and talk my way through easy nights and cooking nights. I hated online shopping, far too abstract and random.

For other things, I'll use post-its or bullet journal inspired notebooks with varied layouts.

Ultimately it doesn't really matter how you plan to get shit done as long as it works for you. Despite not being a list fan, the only real problem is that if life is too rigourously planned without enough space for a realistic level of spontenaity, but that's not about the method.

To the non list writers, here's a question.

While I was cooking dinner I remembered that I want to replace my iPad cover.
I think it's common for things to pop in your head while you're doing tasks that don't need much thought (e.g. having a shower, washing up, planting bulbs).

I wrote it down on my list.
If I didn't write it down I would likely forget until the next time I use the iPad (which I mainly only use in bed i.e. I'm not going to go shopping there and then).

Do you just have amazing memories that mean when you're sitting down after dinner and kids in bed, you go to Amazon and order all the things you've thought about since you were last at Amazon?

I hardly ever use Amazon. I ordered something today (make up that you can't get in Boots or Superdrug) and it was the first time I'd used it in 9 months.

I'm not great with lists. If I put everything I need to do on a list it would total about a million things which I find very overwhelming.

I can’t seem to structure my mind to write lists or keep planners. I’d love to but I think I’m afraid of not doing it right so I don’t do it at all. It’s a weird form of perfectionism. All my lists are in my head.

In a military context, the use of lists, plans, and orders is not only normal but also essential. Writing and using lists is a common and effective way to ensure that tasks are organized, priorities are clear, and everyone involved in the operation understands their roles and responsibilities.

I write lists all the time, and have a daily notebook for when i go out, and a long term 'to do' notebook.. My brain's like a sieve and writing things down de-frazzles my brain!

I write lists all the time! Daily, weekly, monthly, food, holiday packing, work- everything gets a list lol

OK - other shopping methods are available.

What do you do if you use the last of the olive oil when you're cooking?
Do you keep your shopping list in your head?

Yes. When I'm going to the shops I have a quick visual scan round the kitchen and I usually do OK.

Respect!

I have so many lists! I have a little A6 size notebook in my bag, with day to day lists - including the very long list for my one day off a week 😔 Then on my phone I have more lists, plus lots of Google calendar reminders. Love a list!

@LindorDoubleChoc I have a list that I check off against while writing my shopping list 🙂