I’m just 1 person making lists. Lots and lots of lists. My bullet journal is packed full of lists, but they’re also in the time management program I use, on the whiteboard by my desk, and on sticky notes or pieces of scrap paper.

I make lists of things to do each day, things I did each day, items to buy at the grocery store, chores that need to be done, and blog posts or stories I want to write. I list how much I’ve slept and how much I’ve worked out. I have lists of books I’ve read, books I own but haven’t read yet, and books I’ve heard about and one day want to read. I have lists of tv shows, movies, RPG one-shot episodes, google Earth locations, and so many more. 

When I get overwhelmed, my go-to is to make a list. I write down everything I need to do or process, breaking it down into smaller pieces whenever possible. Usually the very act of physically writing something down one step at a time is enough to calm me down a little and set me on the right path again. When I get emotional, my coping mechanism is logic, so I end up making numbered lists to process what’s happening.

Every so often, I’ll make a different sort of list. I’ll do some journaling with a self-care prompt. Apart from it being a useful exercise in the moment, the physical lists act as resources I can look back at later when I’m struggling. Here is an especially meta list of lists I’ve found useful lately:

• Beautiful things that made me smile today
• What I’m grateful for
• Things that have inspired me
• What I’m really good at
• Songs that always make me feel good
• Things from which I want to free myself
• New things I want to bring into my life/heart

What sorts of lists do you write?

Photo by Max Saeling on Unsplash