The 5 Home Lists You Should Make (And Keep)

Are you a list maker? Then you’ll love this list of lists. And if you’re not a list-maker by nature, you might enjoy this list of lists to make (and keep) because they’re designed to make your life and home run smoother. This weekend, consider employing the use of one (or all) of these lists to really up your organization!

You probably already have some sort of form of this you use each day, but don’t just keep it to places you have to go and work stuff you need to do — put your morning routine on there if you’re trying to build a habit and if you’re attempting to stick to a cleaning routine, put a couple of those tasks on there, too. And if you don’t know the secret to easier-to-tackle to-do-lists, here’s the trick: Don’t just write the bigger tasks you have to do on there. Break each task into every actionable thing you need to do (so you don’t end up not cleaning something because you don’t have the right tools you need to buy, etc.).

A lamp break as you’re turning it off? A door keeps sticking? While the best choice for keeping your house in tip-top shape is fixing things when they break (of course, emergency repairs like leaking pipes should be handled immediately), but for the smaller stuff, just put it on a list. Then take it to the next level by adding what you need to complete the task on the list. Keep this list on your phone or in your wallet so the next time you’re at a hardware store you can grab the supplies and repair.

There are some cleaning and maintenance tasks that only need to be done a few times a year or every couple of months — perfect for constantly forgetting. Things like flipping the mattress, changing the air conditioning filter, checking the smoke alarm batteries — figure out what your home needs and when, and take an afternoon to fill your calendar with little reminders. It’ll save on your sanity and add to your home’s health.

This is like the repair list, only with DIY projects you see on Pinterest or in magazines or on blogs. Do it just the same way as the repair list — jotting down the supplies you might need to complete the task. It’s the same idea; next time you’re at the store you can grab some supplies so you have them ready next time you find time to do a DIY project. But also making a list of potential projects — instead of jumping in immediately — will give you the time to consider whether it’s a project you want to spend time and money on.

Come across something you don’t love about home (loud neighbors, too small), something that can’t be changed? Write it down. Have a particularly charming day at home? Write down what made it wonderful. Why? Because there may come a time when you’ve got to make a decision about whether you’d like to stay in this home or move — and a list of pros and cons you’ve been making while not under duress of having to make a major life decision could be the level-headed thinking you need to make the right choice.

What sort of home-related lists do you make to keep your life and home on schedule throughout the year? Share in the comments below!

– Re-edited from a post originally published 9.6.2015 – CM