Call me crazy, but I absolutely LOVE making lists. I make multiple lists everyday, from grocery lists to a list of errands that I need to run and from school and homework to-do lists to work to-do lists.
Photo credit to barnesandnoble.com
In my opinion, lists have a bad reputation, and unnecessarily so! Everyone has experienced a to-do list that ended up being more daunting on paper than the cluster of thoughts floating around in your head. The thing that I discovered a while ago is that lists don’t all have to lead to a painstaking completion process. Some to-do lists can actually be fun!
Because of my love for lists, I unleashed my creativity and began making lists for things that are much more exciting than remembering to pick up milk, scheduling a vet appointment, and keeping track of work meetings. Here are three different lists that not only are enjoyable to make, but also really fun to complete!
Photo credit to barnesandnoble.com
1) Travel & Destinations List About five years ago on a short road trip with my mom, I purchased the book 1,000 Places to See in the United States & Canada Before You Die. This book is a game changer. It offers specific cities, destinations, and tourist attractions of all shapes and sizes throughout the 50 states and our northern neighbor. I immediately began making a list of all the quirky attractions, natural wonders, historical sites, and cities from around the world that I want to visit!
My travel list turned into a pretty elaborate and long list of places and things to do, so I turned my once-scribbly list into a travel journal. I purchased a blank journal with a fun design and organized my travel list by location. I am still adding to my travel lists and enjoying crossing off the completed items! Who wouldn’t enjoy completing this kind of list?!
This is the exact journal I use to record my Words Worth Reading List! Photo credit to barnesandnoble.com
2) Quotes List: Words Worth Remembering I have always been drawn to eloquent writing and speech. It is comforting and inspiring, and I always want to remember the words that give chills or make me smile. Cue the ‘words worth remembering’ list.
Just like my travel list, I bought a beautiful, blank journal to organize and record all of the words and quotes I want to remember. This is what usually happens: I hear or read a quote, grab the closest old piece of mail, a receipt, or snippet of scrap paper and messily jot down the words. In order for me to actually read the quotes and not have to keep a pile of old papers, I take a few minutes to update ‘words worth remembering’ list in my quotes book.
Beyond my love for well-said phrases, do you know what the best part of making this type of list is? There is no work in the completion of it! You only have to continue to make it, add to it, and appreciate it.
Photo credit to barnesandnoble.com
3) Worth Reading List I am a bookworm. I love the feeling of starting and finishing a new book, but our lives today are busy, and free time to read for fun is rare. In order for me to keep up with all of the new titles and book releases, I make a list of books that want to make sure I check out.
Every once in a while, I will take a peek at Barnes & Noble’s Top 100 books list as well as the New York Times bestseller lists and make note of any and all titles that grab my attention. Just like many of my other lists, I bought a small, blank notebook about the size of a weekly planner to keep a running list of books so I won’t forget the names of any of them. Even though this to-do reading list will take a decent amount of time to complete, the feeling of accomplishment after you finish each book makes all the difference. With this list, I am always ready with a book at hand when I have the chance to read for pleasure!
little things + big interests 