If you ever feel overwhelmed with the number of things you need to keep track of, lists will be your new best friend. Staying organized significantly boosts your productivity, and creating a list is one of the best ways to keep track of everything you need. By documenting your life through lists, you free up mental space for creativity and enjoyment. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the five best lists to keep if you want to stay productive and organized.
The Interests List
Interests or hobbies are what make us interesting. This is one of the best lists to keep because it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the new items you want to read or watch. It’s also a great way to remember what you’ve done and is a conversational start.
I have interest lists for books, TV shows, podcasts, and movies. You can create them or anything that you see as a hobby. Use Notion or Excel to keep track of what you want to read, what you have read, and maybe a few notes on what you thought.
It helps you stay organized when you find yet another book you want to read and makes it easy to recommend books to friends. Plus, you can always use AI to suggest new recommendations based on what you love.
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The Travel List
If you love exploring, either domestically or internationally, you need a travel log. Documenting the places you’ve visited allows you to remember past experiences and share recommendations with others.
Personalize it to your taste, but list the countries and cities you visited. Or, go deeper to list out where you visited, where you ate, and more.
This made it the best list ranking because it creates a travel journal and recommendation house in one. Plus, it helps you stay organized in where you went and what you did. Notion is a great place to store all the information!
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Product Review List
As a beauty enthusiast or tech lover, maintaining a list of products you’ve tried is invaluable. There’s always one area you are passionate about that friends ask for recommendations in.
For me, it is the beauty realm so this is the best list for talking about a passion of mine. I can easily recommend skincare, hair care, and makeup products to friends and family. Include notes on what you liked or disliked about each product.
For you, it could be in tech, coffee, gadgets, or many other areas. This list not only helps you track your preferences but also serves as a reference for friends seeking advice on products. I find this to be a productive list because it streamlines having to think and remember what I have tried.
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Daily Gratitude List
This is the best list to start improving your mindset and how you view the world. Take a moment each evening to record three positive things that happened during your day. This practice encourages mindfulness and can improve your mood and quality of sleep.
By focusing on the smaller joys in life, you create a memory journal that highlights the beautiful moments you’ve experienced. This simple exercise can enhance your happiness and remind you of the good in your life. We easily get caught up in the negative, and this is a reminder that we should focus on the happy times.
Idea List
The idea list is my favorite and the best list for forging your path. Creating a centralized location for all your business ideas and creative thoughts can be incredibly beneficial. These thoughts are often fleeting so keeping them in one place helps you stay organized.
Whether it’s a notebook or an Excel sheet, jot down ideas as they come to you. This informal approach allows you to revisit and expand upon your thoughts later, preventing fleeting thoughts from being lost.
If you want to start your own business, like I do, it’s productive to see and expand on existing ideas than trying to think of new ones.
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Bonus: Brain Dump List
A brain dump is one of the best lists for decreasing mental strain and clearing your mind. Dedicate time each week to write down everything cluttering your mind. This practice allows you to take the stress out of remembering everything. Then, it is easy to visualize and focus on the most important tasks. This list has helped me stay organized by not forgetting anything on my to-do list. It also makes me more productive when I have the mental capacity to think rather than straining myself just to remember items.
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Final Thoughts
The best lists keep you organized, help you remember, and make you more productive. These lists are practical and serve as a means to reflect on your life’s journey. By keeping track of your interests, experiences, and thoughts, you can have a more organized life with all the clear mind you need to feel fulfilled. Plus you’ll be the go-to person for the best recommendations! Consider starting one or more of these lists today to enhance your productivity and joy.
With love,
Aditi <3
Aditi Rani – Figuring Out Life in Your Twenties
*Disclaimer: This is not professional advice. Some links are affiliate. By clicking and/or purchasing, I may receive a commission. It does not alter the price or change your buyer experience.
