Making Lists to Get Organized
One thing is for certain, after becoming a parent, you are more likely to forget things. Misplacing items, missing events, not prioritizing yourself or your marriage. All of these things are far more common to occur once you are keeping a small human alive.
None of this is bad, or your fault, please remember that. There are so many societal pressures to be the best at this and that and get it all done and look fantastic and have your body bounce back. Truly unrealistic standards that have been imbedded into our brains as women.
Let’s make one thing clear, none of that is what is important. Health and support and love for that baby are all that matters.
Now, life does go on after having a baby, and once you get out of the clouds of bliss and exhaustion, things can start to find their way back to being your normal way of living (for the most part). I, personally, found that while my priorities have certainly shifted, I am equally an overachiever, aiming to complete and stay on top of the tasks I have created for myself.
This is where lists come in. It can feel incredible to check things off of a to-do list or a goal list, or any kind of list! Lists can make things very clear as to what you are hoping to get done, what you need to pick up, tracking progress and so much more.
Here are a few lists to make to get yourself organized.
Goals for the Next Week – This could be in a planner or a notebook, even on a notepad you reference every day. Something to keep yourself accountable.
A Week of Meals – Planning your family meals for the week can help avoid the daily dreaded question “What’s for dinner?”. Post this on the fridge or somewhere in the kitchen where your family can see it.
Cleaning List – Keeping a list of your cleaning tasks that you like to accomplish every day, week, month and so on will help keep track of things far more efficiently.
Packing Lists – A standard packing list with flexible quantities and weather related additions can really help in a pinch when you may be rushing around last minute to collect everything for a trip. Especially with kids, there is so much more to bring and it can be a heart sinking moment to realize something may have gone forgotten.
Shopping Lists – Sticking to a list can help with your budget and not have you reaching for cravings or treats that you had no intention of purchasing.
Wish Lists – Wish lists are the digital version of window shopping, creating a reference with links to the items you may want to suggest as gifts for yourself or others in your family.
Usernames & Passwords – Keep this in a safe place, but with all of the logins we need to try to remember these days, keeping a list will help prevent being locked out of a website or account.
Fridge/Freezer/Pantry Inventory – Another budget friendly assistant, these lists will help you purchase only the items you need, versus purchasing unnecessary ingredients you already own or have a surplus of. This can also help with meal planning because you can cook based on your inventory.
Recipes – Family favourites, crowd pleasers, family traditions, awesome finds from Pinterest, whatever recipes you have had success with, keep a log of these to use time and time again.
Budget Tracking – Keeping tabs on what you are spending and where your money is going can be incredibly eye opening and liberating. It truly puts things into perspective and can create a visual of where you’d rather see your money end up.
Date Night Ideas – Marriage and relationships are not to be neglected and should be cherished. Even as life gets busy, and kids cause more loveable chaos, prioritizing our partners should always be a thing. Keeping a date night list can be a fun way to have something to look forward to, just the two of you.
Seasonal Bucket Lists – This can be fun for the whole family! Each season, or holiday, create a family list filled with activities, crafts, movies to watch, books to read and so much more.
Movies to Watch – Personally, there are so many classic movies, or current films that I have always been interested in watching, but haven’t taken the time to see. I have seen some movies dozens of times, yet my roster of must-see movies continues to grow. Keeping a list gives a refreshing option on movie nights.
Books to Read – There is so much incredible literature in this world that now comes in so many forms. Hard cover, soft cover, new, used, borrowed, eBooks, audio books, the list goes on! We truly don’t have excuses to not indulge any longer.
Financial Goals – Similar to a budget, but instead, this time you are creating personal and family goals as to what you would like your money to do for you. This can actually become really fun, dreaming up all the amazing things money can do when used wisely.
Birthdays & Anniversaries – With the days going by so fast, it can be a week later and you realize you missed someone’s birthday. Avoid that all together by having a list, set reminders and put them into a calendar so you won’t disappoint someone with this again!
Health & Fitness Goals – Health is so incredibly important and not something to ignore. When setting goals, this can look like the typical weight loss desires, but more specifically, personal achievements like running a marathon, or going for a walk outside every day for 30 days, rain or shine, are also huge! Whatever it may be, once achieved, it only makes you hungry to set another goal, and so on.
What are some lists you like to make for yourself that you find helpful? Lists can be tracked, checked off, or just used as a guide, all of which will keep you accountable when used correctly.
Melanie xoxox