Some people might have a “To-Do” list. Yep, I have one of those. (Well, more than one, to be honest!) Those are located at my full-time job – my daily list, my lunch list, and my “do this on your way home or when you get home” list!
But I also have a List Book.
Early in life, I found that making a list of things helped me to organize my thoughts, and since I’ve always had lots of different activities going on, it helped me not to forget anything at the same time. As time went on, I ended up with not only a few more “projects” but also the need to condense everything together in some concise form.
Enter: The List Book! Now, no more pieces of paper floating all over creation!
I happen to LOVE Vera Bradley, hence the pretty pattern! And it’s not big – about the size of your average diary or journal.
So, what do I mean by a List Book?
It’s pretty simple: it’s full of lists. Lists such as…
- People to Have Over for Dinner
- Office Projects
- Living Room Projects
- Dining Room Projects (okay, every room of the house has a list, so you get the idea!)
- Places to Go (for when me and my hubby both actually have a day off at the same time!)
- Songs for CD (one day we plan on recording one!)
- Dishes to Try
- To Blog Of
- Books to Read
- Shows to Watch
- Things to do in D.C. (our next vacation spot!)
I basically condensed down all the lists I had floating all around, and put them into one notebook! And that’s not all this helps me with…
Also in the List Book, I keep listings of all of my frequented websites, along with account numbers, usernames, passwords, things like that. Yes, they are color-coded (with MARKERS, for my friends who LOVE to pick on me for this aspect of my O.C.D., ha!): Pink is Personal, Green is Photography and Yellow is Clever Container.
Whoops, that picture had no yellow on it.
There we go!
It’s so easy to be able to grab this book and look up exactly what I need in a split second, or, when I get a brilliant idea, use it to make a brand new list!
And yes, sometimes things change. Lists get completed and websites expire, etc. That’s why, at the beginning of every year, a new List Book is purchased, and all the necessary information is transferred over!
Do you have something like the List Book that you use? If not, try this on for size in YOUR life! I promise you’ll feel more organized!
Oh, and the heads up…
Starting this next week, you won’t see a new post here 5 days a week like you normally do, except for on special occasions! You will, however, see me posting Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week.
Those of you who’ve been here with me on the blog for a while know that, not only do I work full time, but I also run my own business part time, and then I do this blog and try to keep my hubby happy and my house clean. Sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming (like recently) so in order to make sure I don’t lose my mind and am still able to bring you quality posts, I’ll be dropping down the number of times I post each week. For most weeks. You never know when I might pop in unexpectedly and put up a special post! So make sure you pay attention! I have some very exciting things I want to do here on the blog, and I want to make sure I have plenty of time to make them the best they can be!
I hope everyone has a simply fantastic weekend!
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I LOVE your idea of a list book. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. I’ve got various notebooks with information scattered throughout each one. When I need to look something up, it takes me ages to go through it all. Funny thing is–I usually remember where it is situated on a page–top or bottom, left or right. Must try your method.
Hey, as long as you can find what you’re looking for!
A List book does sound like a great idea–especially for passwords etc. Of course that means I would have to actually remember to write in it! I totally understand going to 3 days a week posting instead of every day. I used to tweet out, g+ and enter on facebook every giveaway and book review plus any misc items I may have written–I have recently combined it everything in one post which I update daily–has saved me LOTS of time!! So I guess you could consider that kind of a list!
HA! Yes, it IS a discipline to actually write in it, that’s for sure. Your “kind of a list” sounds good!
Totally a good idea – I mean, it all starts when you make note of things right? instead of just thinking and wishing and not doing it – love this!
Great point, Aisha!
List book?! What a great idea! I have scraps of paper all over the place. A list book would help reduce paper clutter.
I have always been amazed with people who post everyday, adding two jobs to the mix must be overwhelming! I know it would be for me. Taking care of self is more important than Blogging everyday. I
Yes, I tell myself that taking care of myself is more important…but somehow it never sinks in!
I think lists are one of my great joys in this life! My problem is I have so many cute notebooks – every time I see one I buy it and start using it as my list book. So basically I have about 20 List Books floating around…
HA! That’s funny 🙂
I, too, am a list person. Love this idea! Thanks for sharing it. The color coding is great also! Do you ever make a list with things on it you have already done just so you can check those off first? 🙂 I will do that when I’m involved in a project, like packing to move!
Every once in a while, when I’m trying to remember what I was doing that took up so much time, I DO write things down so I can cross them off LOL
HOW do you post 5 times a week and work full-time, too? It sounds like posting 3x is a good plan for you! I love to make lists and this list book sounds like a great idea! The color coding is genius, as well! MY OCD is getting all excited here . . .
I’m not exactly sure how, Amy…but I’m glad I made your OCD happy LOL
I so needed this! Thank you for the idea! I will be going out and buying my list book today!
Wohoo!
My journal is my list book. Not neatly as organized as yours but it serves the same purpose. What I like to focus on is not so much what I have to do – but what I have done 🙂
Oh, that’s a good idea!
i have a book list as well a list of books i want to read and i hope your new blogging schedule works out for you
Oh yes, I have a list of books in my list book LOL
I need a list book!! That’s such a great idea! They would be so much easier to carry around with me. I usually have things in binders, but this I can stick in my purse or put bedside. Cool idea. BTW- I color code EVERYTHING too. 😉
Yes, this one is small, so it can fit beautifully in my purse. And yay for color-coding! 🙂
I have been keeping a book like this for a couple of years. Very helpful, I am always finding things I forgot I wrote in there!
Me too! That’s the next issue to conquer LOL
I use something similar, and then have a bit of a way of indexing it, thanks to a great link over on Plannerisms (https://www.plannerisms.com/2013/11/how-im-indexing-my-notebook.html). It definitely helps to keep me organized, and also to have a way to find things in the book as it fills. 🙂
Happy organizing!
– Melissa
https://www.measi.net/measiblog/
OH! I will have to check this out! Thanks for sharing!
I knew you were awesome!!!! I keep a list book, too!!! Mine is just in a little notebook that I picked up at Target, but now I want to transfer all my lists over to a fancy schmancy book like you keep!!
You should, you’ll have lots of fun!
I have never thought of something like this! It would be great to keep me a little more organized and to actually remember things that aren’t always on my mind! Thanks for sharing!
Sure thing! Hope it works for ya!
I don’t know how you do it, with work, home, and business. Wow, you are a wonder woman. I only have blog and my kids and time is still not enough.
No no, I am a TIRED woman! LOL
I’m so glad to see I’m not the only one with a list book!! Right now my list book is on my iPad and sync’d to my phone too. It keep lists of all the same things too.
Oh, great idea!
What a smart idea! I could really benefit from having a list book of my own. I have this pretty little book (much like the one you have here) I got from Hallmark some time ago. May be I should use it as my list book 🙂
Sounds like it could work beautifully!
Love this! I have kind of the same thing on my ipod, though I’m not sure but what an actual book would be better. I still find myself sitting at the table with pen and paper when I need to organize and work things out.
Yes, it really helps me to write things down, for some reason.
What a fantastic idea – I am so disorganised of late I really need to pull my fingers out and start listing and recording important things. x
Pull them fingers out! 🙂
You are doing in awesome job with keeping up with everything and blogging here too. I am sure that being organized as you are helps a lot with it all.
I hope so! It makes me feel a bit better about it, for sure.
I am a total list maker so this would work out perfect for me… the only problem I see is it being Vera Bradley. If my Daughter and Grandkids see I have a Vera… they will take it.
HA! You should just buy one for each of them, then 🙂 (This could turn into an expensive project very quickly LOL)
What a great idea! I could totally use one of these to help keep all my lists organized and in one place.
Hope it works for you, Lawna!
You might be the most organized person I know! I do love lists, but I almost never follow them. I do love writing things down in my dozen notebooks, but ask me where a certain bit of information is, and I’m clueless.
Oh dear…there are many who are far more organized than me! I used to have notebooks…but they were just too big LOL
You know how much I love lists!! This is just the greatest idea – you can’t forget a thing with a list book of all your lists 🙂 ~Renee
And yet I still feel like I’m always forgetting things…how does that happen?! LOL
I have loads of lists, I love lists as they keep me organised and I have tried in the past to gather them all into one book but it’s never quite worked. Now you have totally inspired me and I now have a new goal. Thanks.
Wohoo!
Kristen, you are a genius! What can I say. I love this idea! I’m still in an old notebook 🙂 Me and my five other normal notebooks 🙂
Well, I’m not sure about all that, but I did used to use notebooks…they were just too bulky for me eventually!
OMG, this is the BEST idea ever! I am a bit addicted to lists, but never thought to make a whole book filled with them. Awesome!!
It’s the best book EVER! LOL
Wonderful idea! I am a list maker with lots of sheets of miscellaneous “crazy” paper everywhere…..in my back pocket, mostly. I MUST adopt this to not feel so crazy! I also like the ‘Clever Container’ and will be perusing that! Thanks!
That’s exactly why I have this book, Natalie! I LOVE Post-It Notes…but they are NOT effective for organizing on their own all over the house like I used to use them LOL
I carry a note book – not as pretty as yours and regular make lists of things. e.g. my To Do Today List, Shopping list, Idea’s and so on. Maybe I should have a “petty” book – in purple of course – my favourite colour.
AH! That’s my favorite color, too, Di! The color of royalty, of course!
Scaling down can be a good thing. Good luck!
Yes indeed! Especially for my busy brain!
I have a notepad that I use. I tried an electronic version but if I do not have it right in front of me – I forget about it. I like your book better at least it is pretty.
I do have a habit of needing pretty things LOL
That is a really great idea! I have most of my stuff stored in skydrive so I can access it where ever I go.
Oh yes, that’s a good idea!
I have lists on pieces of paper all over the place. I think I need a List Book! Great idea.
You just might, Anita!
I love lists! I can’t function without them. I have three or four notebooks, post-it lists for food/meals and then I have apps on the phone and I use tasks on the calendar. Maybe I could condense it into one, pretty little book. That might be better for sure! I love the color coding- I go crazy with it too.
WOW! You and I are kindred spirits, Samantha! LOL
I am also very list orientated. If its not written down, it doesn’t get done. I like the idea of a book and keeping it together.
I’m with you on that one…I forget if I don’t write it down, for sure.
I don’t do lists very well. I try though
Well, as long as you can remember things well, then you don’t have to do lists! 🙂
A list book! What a great idea! I always have little pieces of paper floating around with my lists on them, lol
I know the feeling! Sometimes I lose control still and have to stop and add all the Post-It’s to the book LOL
WOW—you are so organized 🙂 It is amazing 🙂
Well, I don’t know about amazing…I think it’s more out of self preservation than anything else LOL
That is such a good idea and probably kinda fun to look back on years later!
LOL Yes, I’ll probably look back and get quite a laugh out of it 🙂
YES! I used to have a ‘list ‘notebook, not as organized as yours, I also have a ‘task’ notebook at work with notes from meetings and ‘to do’s that don’t fit into the normal routine. I recently made a post it folder. I was finding post it’s everywhere with important numbers, info and I just taped them on a paper and stuck them all in a folder. One day I’ll put them in a neater format but for now my post it folder is a lifesaver!
HA! I LOVE Post-It’s! What a great idea!!!
Thanks for sharing. I am also a list person. Lobe the colors
So glad to be finding so many lovely list people! 🙂
Brilliant idea! I just keep a pad is paper next to my computer to jot things down, but I think having a book like this would be more practical!
Theresa, I keep a pad and pencil next to my bed to jot things down so I can sleep at night LOL
I live by lists… My life would be a mess without it! Full time job, 3 blogs, freelance work… Phew.. I do mine on the computer though.
Oh yes, you need lists indeed!!!
I love that you are taking a bit of a step back. I think we all have realized that we are over extending ourselves. I am so glad you will still be writing however! I myself am just going to write when my heart leads me too!
That’s a great idea, writing when your heart leads you to! I’m far to anal to be as free as you are – my brain doesn’t allow me to not have a set schedule 🙁
I love my lists! I have tried digital and it just doesn’t work well for me. I am all about paper!
I do much better when I’m physically writing things down, for some reason!
This is really nice and it is a great way to stay organized. I have been considering getting some planners and getting organized the old fashioned way.
It still works for some of us! 🙂
This post has made me want to get more organized with my daily task. I sometimes feel like I have a lot of free time only to later on realize that I forgot to get important things done…So writing them down is probably the way to go.
That’s the only way I can remember what I need to do, honestly! You might enjoy it!
I really love that pattern! And I have a list book too!
Oh, how fun! Another fellow lister! 🙂
Somehow I followeed the bunny trail from my first link up and landed here–so glad I did! 🙂 As I’m in major need of a list book just to keep up with all the blogs I’d like to visit. 🙂 Loved yours. And love to be a part of that City on a Hill in this blog land with ya. : ) Thanks again!
HA! Welcome, Christie! I follow bunny trails all the time 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
That’s such a great idea! I have a couple of Moleskine journals where I keep completed tasks and whats not together but I’ve never thought about having a book specifically for lists. I love your Vera Bradley book by the way! I believe I have that same pattern on a backpack. 🙂
Oh yes! Vera is one of my faves! I think I have at least one item in almost every pattern!
I do keep lists! I like having them to refer to when I need them and sometimes when I don’t know that I will need them.
I learned many years ago, however, that I really dislike having to re-write things that should be easy to transfer to the next place that I intend to keep them. To that end, I have a planner cover that is used for this purpose. I know that they are easy to move because I consistently use the same size paper and make sure that the holes align properly before I start to move things.
I use an alphabetic index and I also use color codes so that I can find what I need easily. I do like to introduce new paper designs, which still lends itself to the color code system.
“W” is for Window Measurements. “L” is for linens and things. “H” Is for husband items. It all comes together and I have been doing this since I married in 1967.
WOW! It sounds like a beautiful system, Dianne!
OH my! I was impressed with the list book, didn’t think I could do it but then you put me over the top with updating and transferring every year. Girl I still have the same phone book from over a decade ago…..it is messy and I hardly use it because I do memorize most things like that plus this memory knows where to look for a certain tidbit if I did have to open the relic due to my photographic memory. I think I need to consume more coffee before I ponder this anymore. Your blog announcement is a very sound one, you are a crazy busy lady and I am always amazed a what you accomplish good for you for standing back and reevaluating.
HA! You’re so funny! You certainly don’t HAVE to transfer every year, I just do because it makes me feel accomplished LOL
A very organized way to make sure we don’t leave out anything else is very important for people in any different area of work. Thank you very much for sharing. I am also a visual one and I think your stile is awesome.
Aw, thanks, Adelien!