Top Ten: Lists
It seems only fitting in my series of Top Ten Lists, to include one that focuses -- on lists! I've mentioned my relationship with lists before. When designing a simple, stylish life, there is simply no better way to help myself out than with a bit a planning. List making is the ultimate planning tool. Now, life most certainly never goes as planned -- so why plan anything, Maura?! Great question! Keep them coming! Simply put, I plan and prepare for events and routine activities so that the simple things don't drain me of energy and time. (Also, I have a horrible memory.) For instance, grocery shopping. If I plan what I need to buy, I will save myself three extra trips to the grocery store in a week. (Guaranteed.) Having to make those extra trips is frustrating enough, but let's suppose the car breaks down that very week (i.e. life most certainly never goes as planned) - then the frustration of a few trips to the grocery store has suddenly become a problem to solve.
The lists below might not all ring true for you. If so, disregard them. Always, always, always remember: the most important thing about a list is that it adds serenity to your simple, stylish life; that it eliminates decision-making when it comes to mundane tasks; and, that it frees up your willpower for your dreams, not your duties.
If a list becomes a burden, if it stresses you out, if you use list-making to avoid actually doing the tasks - kick it to the curb! However, if these lists seem potentially helpful to your simple, stylish living - allow me to add one point of thought. Think about where the list should live to make it most convenient for you. Some people swear by list apps on their mobile devices. Some are still faithful to The Post-It. I mix it up. A post-it for groceries and daily to-do's (I'll never tire of the satisfaction of crossing something off my list!), but my list of books to read (see #7) lives on my phone.
With that, enjoy my list below:
1. Groceries
I already explained the main reason for a grocery list in my intro. The other reason I appreciate having one on hand at the store: it curbs the compulsive buying that invariably happens when I see something that I don't need but I (/my sweet tooth) want. So the budget appreciates this list, too.
2. Meal Planning
This goes hand in hand with grocery shopping. By planning the week's meals ahead of time, A) I am creating my grocery list AT THE SAME TIME; and B) I am removing the decision-making process of "What to eat tonight?" that will occur daily. The question will occur exactly when my stomach starts to growl - and I promise you guys I will make poor food choices instead of just sticking to the plan. I want to eat healthy but I don't want it to overwhelm my day. Meal planning accomplishes this.
3. Packing for a trip
This should come as no surprise to anyone as I've documented my love of packing time and again on this blog. By making a list, you will not over pack. It makes for serene travels, my friends. And besides, don't tell me that you do not daydream about a trip prior to departure. If you're going to daydreaming, might as well make a list at the same time. Or, if you travel regularly, do yourself a favor and create a list that you can reference time and again instead of recreate the wheel. That way, when 'life most certainly never goes as planned' and the day prior to departure (when you haven't yet packed for the trip because you have all the time in the world this evening!) becomes packed with last minute meetings and errands and you have NO time to pack, it won't be stressful because you'll come home, pull out your list, throw items into the suitcase and be done with it.
4. Prepping for an Event
Weddings, showers, parties, even having friends over for dinner. Lists are crucial here, people. Not so that you become the next Martha Stewart, but so that when your guests surround you, you can actually enjoy them. This is such a tenant for A Serene Space. I get organized so that the clutter of day-to-day life doesn't come between me and what I love -- which is often time with my loved ones. Big events are stressful. There is a ton to do and oversee. But let us remember why we have them in the first place - to gather. When the gathering finally takes place, I want to set aside all the preparation and enjoy.
5. Master To-Do
#5 & #6 go hand in hand. They were born out of a rocky time in my relationship with Lists. The lists were overwhelming me! There was so much to do; I didn't do anything except maybe binge-watch TV shows (... anyone?) I needed to make the to-dos manageable. These days, I have a master list for my work, and a master list for my personal/home life...
6. Daily To-Do
And each day, I choose items from that Master List to tackle in the next 24 hours. I try to do the hardest task first.
7. Cultural Bucket List
This needn't be interpreted as a bucket list, i.e. Things To Do Before You Die -- unless you want it to be. We all have different interests but I wanted #7 to apply to everyone. For me, I keep a list of books to read. I'm a writer, I love to read and my friends & colleagues are always recommending wonderful pieces of literature. It behooved me to start a list on my phone so that where ere I am, and who ever I'm getting coffee with or having a meeting with, I can add their suggestion to the list. I'll never complete it. But I'll try! My other running list: movies. But that's just me.
Perhaps you are passionate about music, national parks, local hikes, podcasts, traveling, health, blogs, local events, etc. It doesn't matter. But take a moment to think about the topics that come up most frequently in conversation. Help yourself out by creating a list to keep track.
8. Address List
Keep a running list of your friends' and families' addresses. If you haven't created one yet, it will be a tad time consuming. But listen to a podcast or music, watch some fluff TV or a Julia Roberts rom-com (...again, anyone?) - and it'll be completed before you know it. This list is going to save you HOURS of your life from this day forward. Trust. The last thing anyone has time for during the holidays, is compiling a list of addresses. The last thing you want to do when sending someone a "Get Well' card, is text them for their address. Know what I mean?
People will move, addresses will change. When that happens, update the list stat.
9. For Others: Cards & Gifts
This is many-fold, but the common theme here is that this is a running list to show your loved ones you care. Thank you cards, Valentine's Day cards (BY THE WAY: Happiest Valentine's, my hearts!), birthday cards, etc.
For thank you cards, I always create a list (after my birthday or Christmas). This saves time because - again - I'm so forgetful. I'll take the cards to the post office and just as I'm sending them off, I'll remember the one other person I forgot. Such a hassle. Remember a list at its best eliminates hassle.
In terms of gifts: creating lists goes both ways. You can have a list of gifts to give for the future. For instance, my man never needs anything. But in conversation if he ever mentions something that sparks a gift idea, I store it away for a gift-giving event. The flip side: sometimes I need to keep track of the gifts I give. I give my godchildren ornaments every year at Christmas. A fairy godmother should never give the same ornament twice.
10. Gratitude
I have saved my favorite list for last. I am a gratitude list kind of girl. When Oprah started talking about her gratitude journal years ago, I rolled my eyes. But times have changed. I can count on one hand the number of days I haven't written a gratitude list in the last five years. It is usually how I start my day. And it has changed my life. It has helped me reframe difficult situations to see the bright side; it has reminded me of the wonderful gifts this life has given me (even when I'm grumpy); it has helped me stay in today -- finding the bits of life in the last 24 hours what I am thankful for. I am more than willing to make the claim that if you add no list but this one to your life, you will be well on your way to living in a serene space.
What lists aid in your simple, stylist lifestyle? Share in the comments below!
