18 Lists to Make to Stay Organized - Organize Your Life
Hey hey! Let’s talk lists.
I’m talking BIG lists, tiny lists, digital lists, cute notebooks with gold coils. I love them all. If it can be checked off, highlighted, color-coded, or even turned into a Notion board, I’m in!
But here’s the thing: lists aren’t just some quirky productivity flex. They’re how I stay sane. They help me sleep better, plan smarter, and honestly, feel like a grown adult who has it together (most of the time).
Why lists work (and why you probably need more of them)
Lists help get the mess out of your brain and into a format you can actually do something with. Whether it’s your Monday morning game plan, your grocery situation, or your “someday, maybe” dreams—they all deserve a home.
This post is your starter pack. Your blueprint. Your permission slip to become That Person who somehow remembers birthdays, finishes their workout, and has dinner plans by 5pm.
Let’s get into it.
Take Control Of Your Life
Master Your Time: 18 Essential Productivity Lists for Life Organization ✨️
But first, have you tried Sunsama?
If you love a paper planner but hate rewriting things over and over, let me introduce you to Sunsama. It’s like a digital daily planner that pulls tasks from your calendar, your email, and your brain, and lays them out in a way that actually makes sense. I use it every morning to time-block my day.
Think: to-dos meet calendar meets calm.
Now that you’ve got the right mindset (and maybe the right tool), let’s go through the lists that’ll genuinely help you get organized.
1. Daily To-Do List
Your classic, can’t-live-without-it list. Keeps the chaos at bay, one checkbox at a time.
What is it? A snapshot of what you’re doing today, from tasks to appointments to self-care moments.
Why it matters: Your brain gets to focus on doing, not remembering.
What to include: Meetings, errands, workouts, rest blocks, phone calls. Literally everything.
Tool tip: Use Sunsama to make this seamless.
2. Weekly To-Do List
Zoom out. This one’s for the big-picture stuff.
What is it? Your week at a glance. Balances work, life, and rest.
Why it matters: Helps you pace yourself and avoid Monday meltdowns or Friday freakouts.
What to include: Deadlines, social plans, recurring tasks, and buffer time.
Tool tip: Try Notion for a flexible drag-and-drop weekly board.
3. Goals List
Because dreams deserve a plan.
What is it? Your wish list turned action plan.
Why it matters: Clarifies what matters most, so you can aim your energy.
What to include: Career targets, personal goals, bucket list items, intentions.
4. Fitness Progress List
Spoiler: your future self will thank you.
What is it? A log of what you’ve done for your body lately.
Why it matters: Progress is motivating—and surprisingly easy to forget.
What to include: Workout types, reps, milestones, how you felt.
5. Shopping List
Impulse-buy prevention in checklist form.
What is it? A premeditated collection of what you need to buy.
Why it matters: Saves you time, money, and those awkward second trips.
What to include: Essentials, gifts, pantry refills.
Tool tip: Try AnyList for family sharing.
6. Meal Planning List
Feed your week, not your stress.
What is it? A plan for what’s for dinner (and lunch. and snacks.).
Why it matters: Reduces decision fatigue and makes grocery runs easier.
What to include: Weekly meals, leftovers plan, recipe links.
Tool tip: Use Mealime or Plan to Eat.
7. Budget List
The adulting list. (You knew this one was coming.)
What is it? A breakdown of your income, expenses, and savings.
Why it matters: Peace of mind, reduced anxiety, and way fewer surprise charges.
What to include: Monthly bills, subscriptions, debt, savings goals.
Tool tip: YNAB (You Need a Budget) is a game-changer.
8. Spending List
Your money diary. (No judgment.)
What is it? A record of what you’re actually spending.
Why it matters: Awareness is everything. Patterns reveal themselves fast.
What to include: Daily purchases, unexpected expenses, auto-renews.
9. Running Grocery List
For that “ugh we’re out of milk again” moment.
What is it? A living document of what you’re running low on.
Why it matters: Helps avoid waste, duplicate purchases, or forgotten ingredients.
What to include: Staples, fridge empties, special ingredients.
10. Emails to Send List
Inbox zero isn’t the goal. Clarity is.
What is it? A list of emails you need to write, follow up on, or gently nag about.
Why it matters: Keeps your communication game strong.
What to include: Thank-you notes, proposals, project updates.
11. Events to Attend List
Because your social and work life deserve a shared Google Calendar.
What is it? A list of upcoming events you actually want (or need) to show up for.
Why it matters: You don’t want to double-book or ghost something important.
What to include: Conferences, webinars, birthdays, brunches.
12. Cleaning List
Your home, but make it manageable.
What is it? A realistic schedule for keeping your space livable.
Why it matters: Less mess, less stress.
What to include: Daily chores, weekly resets, seasonal deep cleans.
13. Books to Read / Shows to Watch List
Because choosing what to read shouldn’t take longer than reading.
What is it? A media queue so you’re never bored—or behind on recs.
Why it matters: You always have something to dive into when downtime hits.
What to include: Book recs, binge-worthy shows, classic films.
Tool tip: Goodreads is great for tracking.
14. Birthday & Anniversary List
You remembered? Of course you did.
What is it? A master calendar of important dates.
Why it matters: Keeps your relationships thriving.
What to include: Birthdays, anniversaries, big milestones.
15. Decluttering List
Clear space, clear head.
What is it? A checklist of spaces or items you want to simplify.
Why it matters: Clutter = decision fatigue. Clearing it = sweet relief.
What to include: Closets, drawers, random corners you avoid.
16. Password Manager List (but not on paper!)
What is it? A secure vault of your logins and credentials.
Why it matters: Because “forgot password” is a lifestyle you can opt out of.
What to use instead: LastPass or 1Password (never write this stuff down!)
What to include: Social logins, banking, software tools, subscriptions.
17. Restaurants to Try List
No more "I don't know, where do you want to eat?"
What is it? A running list of eateries you want to check out.
Why it matters: Makes impromptu plans 1000x easier.
What to include: New openings, friend recs, blog finds.
18. Professional Accomplishments List
Hype yourself. You deserve it.
What is it? A record of your wins—big, small, and everything in between.
Why it matters: Boosts confidence, makes resume updates a breeze.
What to include: Projects, promotions, praise from clients, stats.
Tools to Help You Manage These Lists
| List Type | Recommended Tool | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Planning | Sunsama | Combines tasks + calendar into one calm daily view |
| Weekly Planning | Notion | Great for visual planning and recurring tasks |
| Meal Planning | Mealime | Recipes + auto-generated grocery lists |
| Grocery + Shopping | AnyList | Easy to share, categorize, and reuse shopping lists |
| Budgeting | YNAB | Helps track real-time cash flow and saving habits |
| Password Management | LastPass, 1Password | Secure, cloud-based login storage |
| Reading Tracker | Goodreads | Keeps your book list organized with ratings and notes |
What to Include in Each Type of List
| List Name | Suggested Inclusions |
|---|---|
| Daily To-Do | Tasks, meetings, priorities, rest breaks |
| Weekly To-Do | Projects, deadlines, appointments, fun plans |
| Goals List | Career goals, life dreams, short-term challenges |
| Fitness Progress | Workout types, reps, feelings, milestones |
| Shopping List | Pantry staples, toiletries, gifts |
| Meal Planning | Weekly menus, recipe links, prep days |
| Budget List | Income, bills, subscriptions, savings targets |
| Spending List | Purchases, impulse buys, payment dates |
| Running Grocery List | Household staples, running low items, specialty ingredients |
| Emails to Send | Follow-ups, proposals, check-ins, gratitude notes |
| Events to Attend | Socials, work events, webinars, family obligations |
| Cleaning List | Daily chores, weekly zones, seasonal deep cleans |
| Books/Films to Explore | Recommendations, must-reads, queue items |
| Birthday/Anniversary | Birthdates, milestones, annual reminders |
| Decluttering List | Drawers, closets, digital files, unused household items |
| Password Manager | Logins, subscriptions, software access (securely stored only) |
| Restaurants to Try | Local gems, trending spots, blog-saved eats |
| Professional Accomplishments | Milestones, client wins, testimonials, promotions |
Final Thoughts (AKA Your Friendly Nudge)
You don’t need to start all 18 lists today.
Just pick one. Write it down. Check it off. Breathe.
Sometimes all you need is a smarter system :)
Lists are more than productivity tools. They’re proof that you’re trying. That you care. That you’re figuring it out one step (or checkbox) at a time.
Now go make your lists. Your future self is already relieved.