Why I Love Lists!!

When you think of the word “LIST” what comes to mind? Catalog, Inventory, Record, or perhaps Directory? All of those are great synonyms and are great ways to help keep you, your belongings and your life in order.

As a Girl Scout headed off to summer camp, I would grab my list of things to bring and lay everything out on my bed before I packed my back pack and sleeping bag. Having the list handy meant that I could see everything I already had in my possession as well as helped me see what was missing. At the end of the trip I used the list to make sure I brought everything home that I had taken with me.

As an adult, the lesson of “being prepared” stayed with me and I created lists for myself for the new and different travels I would take. I keep 2 lists for “Traveling” (International and Domestic) just so I wouldn’t forget anything at the last minute! It’s a lovely list that includes information for the day before as well as the day/time I am scheduled to leave. I feel much more relaxed and can enjoy my free time without worrying if I turned off the oven, packed my cell phone charger, and have my travel documents.

When one of my best girlfriends became a first time mom, I bought her a book I had seen at the National Association of Professional Organizer (NAPO) National Conference last year in St. Paul, MN. It is called “Baby Daze” and has sections for recording feeding times, health concerns to speak with the pediatrician about, and other vital information. I also gave her the accompanying “lists” that spell out what to pack in a diaper bag for one day, a long trip and for traveling. There is another list for times when a babysitter is used that works for the parents as well as the sitter, so all the bases are covered.

What can you create a list for? Here are some ideas:

For your kids: what goes in their backpack everyday (completed homework, lunchbox, PE clothes, library books); what to take to sports matches (nothing worse than having to go back for something); what to take to Troop meetings, things to take to another parents’ house for visitation time

At work: things to be kept in your briefcase/attaché case; usernames and passwords for Intranet use; cheat sheets for commonly used codes/information in your industry; reminders for timesheet/reimbursement form submission procedures

At home: grocery lists; usernames and passwords for Internet access; record of DVD titles as an inventory tool; important names and phone number s for other family members; items kept in the Safety Deposit box, list of books to be borrowed from the library


The possibilities are endless and can be tailored for you and your family’s needs! What list can you create that will make your life easier? Do it today and make tomorrow a little less stressful!!


Here's to a "list-iful" life,