46 Lists to Make When Life Gets Overwhelming

I’ve always loved writing lists.

I have done this since I was a teenager and wrote journals full of lists on everything from my favourite songs of the year and all-time favourite movies to books to read and my extensive bucket list.

To me, list-making was fun!

As I grew older, I started listing things to get them out of my head.

Be it to-do lists, goals for the year, things to pack, or bills to pay. Writing lists down on paper helped me to dig myself out of many a procrastination loop and to decrease the clutter in my mind. 

Lists gave me room to FOCUS and to get things done.

In my earlier life as a project manager, they were my saviour as lists kept me organised. They were also a great stress management tool, helping to organise my workload and thoughts.

Over the last few years, I’ve used lists to plan my wedding, organise holidays and reflect on what I wanted to do in my life – and make some well-needed changes.

Furthermore, lists have helped me deal with life when it got overwhelming (because it does, even for those of us who appear to have our sh$t together!) and helped me to manage my anxiety and depression when they threatened to overcome me.

So here are 46 ideas for lists to make when life gets overwhelming.

Some of the lists are just plain fun. Some are serious. And some, well, once you get started, you may not be able to stop! I hope they help reduce the overwhelm and help you feel more in control of your life.

1. What are your goals for the coming year?
2. Self-care ideas
3. Your to-do list. Get everything out of your head and onto paper!
4. Bills to pay and due dates – map out a plan and prioritise those bills, baby!
5. A feel-good playlist. What songs make you feel good?
6. What are you grateful for this week?
7. All of the things you have accomplished in life so far
8. Make a plan to decrease the clutter in your life. List things to throw out, keep, to give away!
9. Books you want to read in your lifetime
10. Things that make you happy
11. Your travel bucket list
12. Your happiest memories – what are they?
13. Phone numbers and addresses. You’ll thank me next time you have an issue with / break / lose your phone!
14. Restaurants and cafes you want to try
15. Your all-time fave songs/bands/singers
16. Life admin tasks you’ve been putting off and need to get done
17. Useful advice/words of wisdom for when times get tough
18. Gift ideas for _____
19. Things you want to learn
20. Questions to ask your doctor the next time to see them
21. A house renovation list
22. What are your values and why?
23. TV series to binge-watch
24. A shopping list
25. Your fave places and spaces in the world
26. A meal plan for the week – easy meals that are quick to throw together and won’t add to your overwhelming feeling!
27. Your Christmas or birthday wish list
28. Ideas of things to draw or paint
29. Key dates for the year – birthdays, appointments, concerts, public holidays, holidays, and more
30. Who are your favourite people in the world and why?
31. Songs to download or add to your playlist
32. Things you love about yourself
33. Things you love about someone else
34. Appointments you need to make, such as booking in to see the dentist
35. Hobbies to take up
36. What are your priorities for … the week, the month, the year or life in general?
37. An outfit plan for the week so you know what you will wear each day – helps to take the pressure off in the morning when you don’t have to think about WHAT to wear!
38. Itemise your valuable possessions
39. Journaling prompts
40. Things you cannot live without
41. Make a plan for your next holiday
42. Quotes that inspire you
43. Recipes you want to try
44. What isn’t working for you right now? What can you get rid of, get out of, say no to? How can you make life just a little easier?
45. Your all-time favourite movies
46. What do you need to prioritise at work tomorrow? (write this list every afternoon so you can start work the next day with a clear plan)

Here are some tips for your ‘to-do’ lists

• Set aside a special pen for ticking completed items off your list. I get immense satisfaction from ticking things off of my lists! What about you?
• Buy some pretty stickers and give yourself a sticker for ticking everything off your list.
• Set yourself a reward for doing everything on your list. It could be a glass of wine, a new top, or a massage!

Lastly, have fun when you’re ready to sit down and start ‘listing’. Crack out the coloured pens and a nice notebook just for your lists.

Happy list writing!

Download a copy of the printable here.