Do you make lists? What sort of lists do you keep?

United States
February 11, 2007 6:11pm CST
I am a list-maker from way back. I've always done it, but it doesn't mean that I get more thinks done, either. I prefer making lists to getting the things done on them. My biggest list is that of books I want to read. I started writing them down in a notebook so that I would remember them. I don't think if I lived until I was 102 would I be able to read all the books I have on my list. Crazy, huh? What kind of lists do you make or keep?
12 people like this
33 responses
• United States
26 Feb 07
I make mental to-do lists every day. Usually they have about 10 things on them. One year, I made a New Year's resolution not to put too many things on these lists. The next day's list had 22. I have a notebook in which I jot down names of musicians or songs I'd like to hear again. Sooner or later I'll do that. I have so many books I haven't read yet that making a list of more to read would mean some of these would never get opened.
4 people like this
• United States
27 Feb 07
I know what you mean about the books. I have tons that sit unread, none of which are on my list of books to read. Then I go to the bookstore and buy another one (without my list, of course). Still, what would it be like to have a house full of books that you had already read? I can't really imagine that scenario. I like having plenty of choice when it actually comes time to pick the next one out to read.
@anup12 (4177)
• India
26 Feb 07
I try to make a list of what tasks I must perform on a day to day basis.Also I make a list of the amount of withdrawls I do in a month.It gives me a fiar idea of how much I spent during the month.
4 people like this
• United States
12 Feb 07
There are few lists that I make. One that I make most often is my grocery list. At Christmas I make a list of gifts that I have bought and also to who that gift will go to. The next part of the list will be what I need to buy for gifts. From there I will decide what gifts I am going to make. Then comes the final list of what materials I will need to purchase to complete these gifts. Another list is the baking list, which consists of what I will bake for gift giving. And that all important Christmas card list. Last year this didn't happen. I only gave to those that sent us a card. But, one thing I should add, I rarely refer to the lists.
3 people like this
• United States
12 Feb 07
Christmas is the holiday for list making. After all, even Santa has his list of who's been bad or good, for goodness sake. Ok, too corney. Seriously with all the festivities associated with holidays, I would bet a lot more listmaking goes on that time of year.
• United States
25 Feb 07
I think most writers are listmakers. I know I am! I also have a book list-- I take it to the library with me. My list grows and grows, there aren't enough hours in the day!
4 people like this
@joyskie23 (174)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
me too is a list maker.Almost everyday before the day starts i make a list of things that i have to do for the whole day.From the things i have to do for my husband,for my baby,for myself and for our house.I love making list.I also make list of happy moments that happened in me,in my family and when im bored i read them and it gives me happiness.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
2 May 07
I'm a fanatical list maker myself...not anything like grocery shopping lists..I can pretty much remember what I want to buy..but I have a list for instance of the books I've read..why I don't know..unless if it's because I might want to get the book out of the library again and read it again....So I'm the opposite of you..you make lists of books you want to read..I make lists of the books I've read....Also I have a listing of all the pets I've ever owned...or should I say they owned me..in fact, I began a Rainbow Bridge kind of book...Sometime ago, I got this beautiful journal..had it for years and it was such a pretty journal I didn't want to use it...but then I got the idea to use it as the Rainbow Bridge book...I not only listed all the pets I've ever had, but add photos...and make commentaries of the quirks some of my cats have had...a nice rememberance of them all...
2 people like this
• United States
5 May 07
I also keep lists of books I've already read. It's surprising how often I refer back to them, usually to recommend it to someone else. I love the idea of keeping a journal of your pets. It's a nice way of remembering them.
@Stiletto (4579)
12 Feb 07
I make lists for everything too. To do lists, books to read lists, places I want to go lists, I have a list for everything! By the way, I am also one of the most disorganised people you could ever meet so it's not as if they serve any real purpose - I just like writing them down!
2 people like this
• United States
13 Feb 07
I'm with you. On the other hand, a tidy desk is an empty mind...or so they say.
@rosie_123 (6113)
12 Feb 07
Thd only thing I keep a list for is my weekly shopping. I didn't used to do that either - it was all in my head! But as I get older, I find I am nore forgetful, so I tend to jot down the main things I need. I also sometimes write a ist when I'm going on holiday, to make sure I pack all the essential stuff, but I am not a great list maker.
• United States
12 Feb 07
Making lists is no guarantee that you'll get anything done...trust me!
1 person likes this
13 Feb 07
I always have a to-do list to keep me organised. I use the website www.43things.com on there I have a list of things I want to achieve, things I want to buy and places I want to go. I love making lists, without them I would feel stressed and unorganised.
2 people like this
• United States
14 Feb 07
Thanks for introducing me to this site. I went over, added my first item on the to-do list. How great. I think I need to figure some more stuff out about the site, but this place is rocking! A great find for list makers like me. Love it.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I make up lists of things I need to buy at the grocery store. If I dont then I forget something. I hate going to a store buying a bunch of stuff coming home and realizing you forgot the one thing you went there for in the first place. So I always make a list.
2 people like this
• United States
12 Feb 07
I think that the people who designed grocery stores must have something in the air that makes people forget what it is they really need, because we always come home with a ton of stuff we don't need, yet forget something essential so that we have to go to the store again. Not sure if you heard of this, but someone actually wrote a book based on lists he found outside grocery stores that people had thrown away. It's an interesting look at humans and what we consume or consider important.
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
20 Mar 07
I'm a great list maker. I even make lists of lists so I will know what I've got! Definitely make grocery lists, so I can forget them when I go shopping. Right now I have a list of things to be done around the house. That used to be a "honey do" list, but honey isn't able to do them anymore. Then I have a list of things I'm researching to write articles on, a list of articles that I am working on, a list of articles I should work on....need any more?
2 people like this
@AndiCat (325)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I make grocery lists and I make a list of the things I need to do on a weekly basis. Then, I put the various items on certain days that I know they can be accomplished. I keep a running list of birthdays and anniversaries and I write them on new calendars every January. A couple years ago, I made a list of favorite songs, albums, and movies. Guess I was bored that day!!
• United States
17 Mar 07
Actually the list of favorite songs, albums, and movies is not so crazy. I once worked with a woman whose husband was a real movie fanatic, and he and his friends used to keep lists of movies they thought were great. They would compare lists, argue about selections, and so on. I did this once with a group of friends, and it was fun.
• Philippines
27 Apr 07
i dont make list. cause whenever i wrote something down, i find myself not following on that list except of course if its a grocery list). i like to make mental note instead of writing it down.
2 people like this
@mywendot (53)
• United States
5 May 07
I love to keep lists. I definately make a grocery list, or I'd end up wandering lost in the store. I also keep To Do lists, including prioritizing them for the week = I have one for work, one for personal use, and one for the business I'm starting up. I keep lists of books I want to read and movies to rent/see. I have a list of things I'd like to do in my life some time or other. I have lists of Christmas gifts to give (helps to add to the list as I get ideas through the year because then it's much easier to shop quickly that time of year).
2 people like this
• United States
2 Apr 07
I like to make lists too. I have a list of books that I want to read. A list of books I have read (well sort of - it's a book journal). A list of things I want to do before I die. I actually have a journal that is just lists... lists of scents I like, movies I watched and liked, movies I want to see. Etc
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 07
You are certainly in good company here. I guess I am always afraid of forgetting something really good. I do use my book and movie lists a lot when I go to get something new to read or go to Blockbuster, so they do come in handy.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I dont make a list but my mom used to and when she was done she cross it off. I try to remember but if I dont remember something I say theres always tommorrow.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I have always been a list maker. I make lists of menus for the week. I have lists of chores that I want to get done for the day. I have lists of food onhand. I have lists of groceries. I use a list for everything. Sometimes just makeing list helps me to remember. Like you, I too have lists of books that I want to read
2 people like this
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I make lists for my shopping and rebates. I keep track of what store has what on sale. I also get all my coupons together and make a plan so that I don't spend extra on gas. I have a short memory and I need to make sure I get to certain stores before the sale ends. I also make list of the rebates I have sent for so that I know if they come in or not. I am deffinetly a list person.
• United States
26 Apr 07
I used to be really big with the rebates, and you do have to keep track of them. Then I used to add up how much I saved in a year. It was quite amazing. I don't do as many rebates anymore so it's not the same as in years past.
• United States
12 Feb 07
Imake all sorts of lists. I list the things I need to do for work, things I need to fix at home, things I need to buy at the store, people I need to buy things for (at christmas), goals, meetings, checklists for projects. Unfortunitly, I often misplace the list and then have to "wing-it" from memory, and my memory isn't very good (which is why I make lists). ;-)
2 people like this
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
20 Mar 07
Oh no, you are a bibliophiliac like me! Yep, another list, too.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Mar 07
At least with a list, you minimize the book pile-up, although I have some of that, too.