I’ve always loved making lists.
I have done since I was a teenager.
Journals full of them, on everything from my favourite songs of the year to books I wanted to read to an ever-expanding bucket list.
Back then, list-making was just fun.
As I got older, the whole concept of a list changed.
They became the way I got things out of my head — to-do lists, things to pack, bills to pay, goals for the year, groceries to buy.
And that turned out to be the real magic: when the thoughts are swirling around inside, they feel enormous and tangled and impossible.
Written down, they’re just… a list. Finite. Sortable. Doable. And a place I can refer to to remind me of things.
That’s not a small thing, especially for a busy or Neurodivergent brain.
Holding everything in your head at once is exhausting — it’s a genuine load, running in the background all day.
A list picks up that load and puts it on the page instead, which frees up the mental space to actually think. In my earlier life as a project manager, lists were my saviour.
These days they’re still how I dig myself out of a procrastination loop, quiet the mental clutter, and manage anxiety when it threatens to take over.
Because life does get overwhelming. Even for those of us who look like we’ve got our sh*t together.
Before you dive in
Forty-six is a lot. So consider it a menu, not a mandate.
You don’t sit down and write all of them — that would be its own kind of overwhelming. Pick one that catches your eye. Make that list. Come back another day for another.
Some are practical, some are just for fun, and some you won’t be able to stop once you start. Use the ones that help and ignore the rest.
46 lists to make
- Your goals for the coming year
- Self-care ideas that actually work for you
- A brain-dump to-do list — everything, out of your head and onto paper
- Bills to pay and their due dates — map them out and prioritise
- A feel-good playlist. What songs lift you?
- What you’re grateful for this week
- Everything you’ve accomplished in life so far
- A declutter plan — what to keep, toss, and give away
- Books you want to read in your lifetime
- Things that make you happy
- Your travel bucket list
- Your happiest memories
- Important phone numbers and addresses (future-you will thank you when your phone dies)
- Restaurants and cafes you want to try
- Your all-time favourite songs, bands and singers
- Life-admin tasks you’ve been putting off
- Words of wisdom for when times get tough
- Gift ideas for the people you love
- Things you want to learn
- Questions to ask your doctor at your next appointment
- A home renovation or improvement wish list
- Your values — and why they matter to you
- TV series to binge
- A shopping list
- Your favourite places and spaces in the world
- A simple meal plan for the week (easy wins, nothing that adds to the overwhelm)
- A birthday or Christmas wish list
- Things you’d like to draw, paint or make
- Key dates for the year — birthdays, appointments, holidays
- Your favourite people, and what you love about them
- Songs to add to your playlist
- Things you love about yourself
- Things you love about someone else
- Appointments you need to book (yes, including the dentist)
- Hobbies you’d like to take up
- Your priorities — for the week, the month, the year, or life
- An outfit plan for the week (takes the pressure off busy mornings)
- An inventory of your valuable possessions
- Journaling prompts like this — a whole reflective world of its own
- Things you can’t live without
- A plan for your next holiday
- Quotes that inspire you
- Recipes you want to try
- What isn’t working right now — and what you could get rid of, get out of, or say no to
- Your all-time favourite movies
- Tomorrow’s work priorities (write it each afternoon and start the next day with a clear head)
A few tips for your to-do lists
- Keep a special pen just for ticking things off. The little hit of satisfaction is real.
- Or use stickers. No notes.
- Set yourself a reward for finishing a list — a good coffee, half an hour with your feet up, a new book, whatever feels like a treat.
And most of all, make it pleasant. Crack out the coloured pens and a notebook you actually like. This is meant to help, not become another chore.
Happy listing.
Want a printable version? Download the list-making worksheet here.
No email required — just download it. I’ve never loved being made to hand over my details for a freebie, so I’m not going to make you do it either.
