For a while now I’ve been mentioning the importance of lists. I’ve even created a product to help parents out when they travel as a family, which is a packing list. This time of year, lists are even more relevant in our lives – there’s just so much going on, it’s hard to keep track of everything. After having a Twitter volley with two other moms about how lists are life-savers, I thought I’d write a post about it, focusing on exactly why they are so relevant.
It’s the act of writing things down that is more significant than the actual list itself. Lists just look better and are a form of visual organization. I often walk around my house with notes to myself written on my hand if my mind is extra active that day or I write it on a sticky note. From mid-December until mid-January, you will see an over-abundance of lists and notes around the house keeping me on target for Christmas presents, class parties, my oldest son’s friends’ birthday parties, my 3 y.o.’s, my 7 y.o.’s, and my hub’s birthdays (January 3rd, 6th, and 12th, respectively), travel plans, New Year’s goals, chores, bills, and everything else in between. I try not to dwell on how anything gets done. Day by day, I just do it.
So what is it about lists or writing things down that makes them so significant and allow us to be more productive when we use them? After doing a little bit of research, I found out that writing things down is more scientific than I thought. According to research, writing things down stimulates cells at the base of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). This system acts as a filter for what the brain needs for processing. When the RAS is triggered (by the writing), it sends a signal to the cerebral cortex to focus on what you’ve deemed as most important at the moment. Hence, and there forth, what you wrote down is what gets done. Hmm! Good stuff. Did you know that?
Point of this post: To keep stress at bay, get things done, and be on your merry way – Write it down and make a list!
Thank goodness it stimulates the brain!!! I make lists allll the time
Aisha, I have lists all over the place and I’m lost without them. Even with all of the digital products out there and productivity apps, I still like using good old fashioned pen and paper.
Hi,
I follow you on facebook- shannon flora-johnson
I linked to your blog from World Bloggers Community’s group “Let’s Follow Each Other”,,
I have to keep lists,I have them scattered all around! Nice post!
Please feel free to check out my blog as well! —> Shannon’s Tales of Motherhood http://shannpf1977.blogspot.com/
Thanks,
Shannon Flora
Hi, I’m visiting from WBC Blog Hop. I’m now following you via FB – Quanda. Thanks! 🙂
Shannon, I have a gazillion lists all around my house on little notepad notes. It’s a bit chaotic to the untrained eye but it helps keepme on track and there’s nothing like grabbing that piece of paper and crumbling up when I’ve checked off the last thing to do. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Quanda, Thanks for stopping by.
Tawanna
It’s really weird, if I write a list I don’t have to look at it as I tend to remember what I have to do, but if I don’t write one I don’t remember. My hubbie writes lists as he says otherwise he does not have a productive day at work. I do write a list but I put it on my phone and set an alarm, otherwise I will not remember to look at it.lol
Nina
Merry meet! Cure for Mondays is happy to award you with the VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD 🙂
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Love and light,
Frances