Listful Thinking

Listful Thinking

by Paula Rizzo

 

– Making a list will help you become more organized, more efficient and use your time much better.

– List-full thinking can help you get more done, become more efficient, create good habits, help you do things better and enjoy them more because you are prepared, be more organized, less stressed and more balanced.

– Many successful and professional people keep a list of ideas, tasks and jobs.

– It’s all about preparation and thoughtfulness.

– One study says that by making a list, you are 30% more likely to complete the task. Whether a bigger task or just getting a milk from the store, making a list will make you more organized and efficient.

– Lists will take care of much anxiety – when you write it down, you don’t have to worry as much nor do you have to remember it.

– List making will boost your brain power – making a list will use parts of your brain that you many times do not use.

– List making will improve your focus – it works like a roadmap to get you where you need to go. Your list will help you stay focused as well as get more done throughout the day.

– List making will help you be more prepared – have a pen and paper on hand, because a list will help you to keep priorities and get things done. A checklist is a form to get things done.

– You don’t want to have to remember to remember something, so write it down.

– Make a pro and con list if you have to make a decision.

– Start with a life list – things that you would like to do or see before you die. From there you can go to things you want to do this year, etc.

– A gratitude list – things you’re thankful for at the specific moment and in general. Anything that’ll make you smile should be put on this list, silly or serious.

– Whether you write a grocery list, to do list, list of pros and cons or any other list, the fact that you make a list will do good to your body, soul and mind. It will reduce stress, increase effectivity, and give you a sense of accomplishment.

– Start making a list, write down anything that you think and then begin to prioritize it.

– Keep the list in different categories as to not confuse them as well as to pull them up whenever needed.

– Prioritize your list. Just because something is going to be easier doesn’t mean you want to do that first. Prioritize according to deadline and importance so that you can get it done and will not get off focus (by checking email, taking a phone call, thinking about doing something else, etc.).

– You have to find the right formula for you so that the list does not make you feel overwhelmed. The goal is to help you get more done, not get more stressed. The list can help you be organized and focused.

– Be realistic, you know yourself well enough and do not need to write down things that are unattainable. You also do not want to write down so many things that all you are doing is scratching things off to make you feel better.

– Make different list. Don’t keep every list (what you want to do in your life and what need to do every day) in the same spot. Make several lists for every project that you need to work on or accomplish.

– Learn to delegate or out-source things that you do not necessarily need to do.

– Learn to say no to some things, you do not have to do everything. It’s easy to say yes to a lot of things, but you do not need to make “yes” your default answer.

– Put time frames on your list, when you need to accomplish them.

– Make list of things far out – like buy turkey two weeks before Thanksgiving, etc.

– Make rewards for yourself – when you finish certain tasks, you’ll treat yourself to ice cream or whatever.

– Make reminders for yourself – it’s easy to forget what you’re supposed to do, but if you set reminders for yourself, it will prompt you to take action, look at the list and get it done. Use Post-it notes stuck in places to help remind you.

– Throughout the day, write down the things that you will have to do for the next day and have it finished before that night so you are prepared for the next day.

– When you have a task on your to-do list, you may need to break it down into steps, especially if it is something bigger. So you may need a sub to-do list in order to get things done.

– You can make paying taxes, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, cooking, medication, doctors visits, calendar events, job responsibilities, etc. so much easier if you’ll learn to write it down.

– Too many times do we leave the doctors office, or visiting someone, or a meeting and think, “oh I meant to ask them…”. If we would make list, we would remember.

– Making decisions can be mentally exhausting, but if we would plan before hand by making lists, we can avoid the exhaustion. For example: for one week straight lay out your clothes that you are going to wear the night before… you will not have to waste time or worry so much about deciding what you are going to wear in the morning.

– Make a list of things you need to talk about when you call the person or meet a person – this will keep you on focus and make sure you get accomplished what you needed.

– Make a list of activities and things you want to do when you go on a trip. Having a plan will help you know what you need to get prepared for and you can enjoy your time to the fullest.

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