4 Reasons You Should Use Lists ft. Old English Co.

** Products featured in this post are gifted, however all thoughts and opinions are our own**

I’m addicted to making lists! Lists can be used for literally everything and if I’m completely honest I don’t know what I’d do without them in my life. I’ve been writing lists for as long as I can remember and it’s definitely something I learned from observing my Mum – I remember she ALWAYS had a list on the go next to her never ending mug of coffee. For me there are so many benefits of writing and using lists in both my personal and work life, so I decided I’d share a few of the top reasons list-making are beneficial.

Before you start list-making though you need to decide where you are going to write them all. There are endless apps available for list-making as well as the good old notes on your phone, however I’m old school and prefer pen and paper. For years I’ve refined my list-making medium, trying scraps of paper, post-it notes and whiteboards, but found I either lost them or little fingers had wiped half of them off! So now when I feel the need to jot things down I have a dedicated notepad or book to keep everything in one place which for me any means I’m less likely to misplace it.

The wonderful folks over at Old English Co.** recently sent me a gorgeous personalised notebook**, which has now become my dedicated list-making book and actually inspired this blog post. I love the range that Old English Co. offer with everything from pin badges and prints to a vast selection of notebooks. The notebooks all have quirky or inspirational quotes and the Old English Co.**design I was gifted is certainly applicable to me – hence my constant list making! Beautifully bound  their lined pages are thick and durable making them ideal for keeping your lists together and are available in a range to colours.  

Thank you to Old English Co. for gifting me this notebook and inspiring this post. They have also kindly given me a discount code for my readers which is at the bottom of this page, so grab yourself a notebook and get ready to transform your life with lists!

Become An Elephant

As the saying goes “elephants never forget” and for me the biggest benefit of list making is that I never forget anything. As a busy working Mum my brain is on overdrive from the moment I wake until the time my head hits the pillow and it’s practically impossible for me to remember everything, so each time something I need to do or remember pops into my head I reach for my trusty notebook and jot it down. 

The same goes for at work; if there are telephone messages I need to pass on to colleagues or things I need to hand over,I always have a list on the go to add to throughout my shift to ensure I don’t forget anything.

Make A Plan

Making a list is the perfect way to clearly see all of the tasks you need to complete in one place and is essential when it comes to prioritising. With everything clearly written down it offers an proper overview of what needs to be done meaning you can take each item on your list and deciding the order in which they need to be completed.

I often write a list of all my tasks then number prioritise them, before re-writing in the order I hope to complete. Having a clear, structured plan not only makes my day easier, but also helps me be more productive and get everything done.

Get Organised

Lists help me stay organised as well as keeping the other members of my family organised too. With three kids doing multiple extra curricular activities it is essential I am organised. Lists help me ensure they get to where they need to be on time and with the correct kit.

Even the most simple of list is beneficial in keeping you organised, for example:

• Put washing in washing machine
• Take washing out of washing machine
• Make Tea
• Collect kids from school

You might look at the list above and think that these things are obvious and don’t have a place when it comes to list-making. But, if it helps keep you organised and takes the ‘thought’ out of your day then it’s a list worth writing. By using lists to organise yourself you will find your day is much more smooth sailing, hopefully avoiding bouncing blindly from task to task.

Reduce Stress & Anxiety

I’ve suffered for years with anxiety and often this leaves me overwhelmed when presented with too many tasks all at once. When i feel overloaded with things I find I simply shut down, bury my head in the sand and nothing gets done. However, I find writing a list helps clear my mind and allows me to visualise what I am dealing with on paper. By doing this I am able to divide and compartmentalise tasks and jobs that need to be done, breaking them down into manageable chunks and making a clear plan. This in turn helps prevent me from getting too stressed out or causing any unnecessary anxiety.

As I’ve already said even the shortest of lists can be useful especially in times of additional stress,  keeping you calm and focused on your end goal. If you find yourself feeling over whelmed give it a go; grab a pen and notebook and write yourself a list!

The list examples I’ve talked about here are practical, however list possibilities are endless. Here are just a few alternative list suggestions:

• Write a list of things you are grateful for
• Write a list of books you want to read
• Write a list of movies you want to watch
• Write a list of goals you want to achieve
• Write a bucket list
• Write a list of new things you want to try
• Write a list of your happy songs
• Write a list of your achievements

I could carry on, but you get the idea! Lists can be fun, practical or reflective and all have a place in your personal or work life, so if you aren’t yet making the most of your list-writing potential why not give it a go!

Fancy bagging yourself a notebook to compile some lists of your own ? Then be sure to head over the Old English Co. using discount code OSEPECBR15 for 15% off your order.