If you want to keep your life organized and structured, lists are the simplest way to do so. Lists allow you to put all of your thoughts on paper, making it easier for you to begin working on them or to keep them as a reminder.
But planning and organizing your life just once will not set you up for a productive and stress-free year. Therefore to help you out, here are 12 lists that will serve as your road map to a productive AF life all year long.
It extends beyond your standard to-do lists and planners. And you can always keep on adding things to these lists.
1. Meal Planner
Planning your meals ahead of time helps you maintain a healthy diet while also saving you a lot of time. Sort your meals into three categories.
- Workday Meals – Easy to cook meals that you can make even on your busiest days.
- Weekend Meals – Meals that you enjoy but take a long time to prepare. Make a list of the recipes you want to make when you have friends and family over for the weekend.
- Special Meals – What’s your ‘specialty’? You know, the thing you make the best but want to save for special occasions like birthdays, festivals, or just when you’re down.
2. Grocery List
Make a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to make the recipes listed above. After all, there’s nothing worse than planning your favorite pasta dish only to realize you’re out of cheese.
It will save you time instead of wandering aimlessly through the grocery store aisles.
3. Master To-Do List
Brain Dump all the things you have on your mind. Things you need to do, things that are bothering you, or things you’ve been putting off for a long time. The goal is to clear your brain. We’ll worry about how you’re going to get everything done later.
Related Post : How To Declutter Your Mind (Brain Dump Method)
4. Self Care Checklist
On the days when you don’t feel your best, you don’t have time to find new things that make you feel better. Therefore, make a list of everything you enjoy doing to take care of yourself.
Whether it’s a long hot shower, a good book, your favorite movie, or a new café.
Use this checklist for your self care Sundays or whenever you feel the need to pick yourself up.
Related Post : 7 Day Self Care Challenge
5. Organized ‘Life Goals’ List
Write down your yearly goals and divide them into quarterly and monthly ones. This will make it easier for you to take action and track your progress.
Make a list of your short and long-term objectives.
It’s okay if you’re not sure what your goals are or what you want out of life. Find out what they are by using this Goal Setting Guide. Grab a cute notebook like this one and start figuring out your goals.
6. Plan Your Budget
Write down your monthly income and expenses to see how much you can save or invest in other projects.
Make a list of the things you want to save for, such as a house or a car, or for taxes, and so on. Then calculate how much you can save for each of these categories.
Keep it flexible; some months are different than others.
7. Affirmations List
You need to improve your self talk in order to live an organized life. Affirmations are just positive statements that you repeat to yourself. For example, “I am capable of creating the life I desire.”
Read this article to create affirmations that work for you. Write down your favorites on a flash card and incorporate them into daily routine to increase your confidence.
8. Create Routines For An Organized Life
Make a step-by-step list of what you want to accomplish in your morning and evening routines. This way, you’ll know exactly what you need to do when you wake up or before you go to bed. Even if you’re short on time.
Try to follow this list as closely as possible. These lists are there to make your life organized. So, don’t go overboard by trying to add too many things. An example of your morning routine is,
- Wake up
- Brush teeth
- Yoga
- Listen to a Podcast / Meditate
- Read
- Shower
9. Plan Your Days For An Organized Life
Set some days apart for things that you do repeatedly throughout the week/month. For example, set aside a day for cleaning. Or if you own a business, batch all your admin tasks together.
It’s also a good idea to assign a day to review your goals and reflect on your month. Don’t forget to plan your rest days as well.
10. Things on Your Mind
You don’t have to get up from your work desk every time something comes to mind. This significantly reduces your productivity and focus. The best way to deal with this is to carry a notepad with you and jot down anything that comes to mind while working.
This way, you won’t forget about these tasks and your productivity won’t suffer as well.
11. Places to Visit
I’m sure you have a lot of places in your city that you want to visit. Make a list of the cafes, restaurants, and museums where you want to hang out with your friends.
Keep a list of cities/countries you want to visit as well. So, the next time you plan a vacation, you can check something off this list.
12. Wishlist
Keep a wish list of things you want to have. Whether it’s a book, your favorite dress, or a new gadget. This will help you to be more intentional the next time you want to treat yourself or someone asks what you want.
You can also use this list as a reward system; buy yourself something off the list every time you achieve a goal.
What’s On Your List To Live An Organized Life?
Comment down below which of the following lists would you start with, and why? Also, please let me know if you use any other lists to keep your life organized.