Some people naturally find the idea of making lists appealing, while others may fear that lists impose too much rigidity on life. However, it turns out that making lists is actually very good for your brain, promoting important types of cognitive development. Here are seven of the most exciting ways in which lists influence your mind, along with some useful tips about making effective lists.
1. They aid your memory
When you make a list, you organize information in a way that makes it easier for your brain to process. If you have a collection of scattered thoughts about gifts to buy, household chores that need completed or medical symptoms you want to report to a doctor, putting them down on paper in a linear form instantly groups them together in a way that is simpler to recall. Many people remember items on a list by their location, so numbering can be especially effective.
2. They help you sort through complicated emotions
If you are going through a major transition or experiencing a confused muddle of feelings about a recent development in your life, making a list externalizes those emotions and helps you understand them. For example, someone who is struggling with a recent breakup might make a stream-of-consciousness list of their emotions and be surprised by some of the underlying feelings that turn out to be in the mix. Each emotion can then be considered, explored and processed in turn.
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3. They put information into categories
When you make a list with a heading, you automatically put items of information into a category. Your brain finds this approach very helpful, as the mind naturally categories things in order to manage data and process the constant stream of information that you are exposed to.
4. They make goals seem achievable
A large goal like getting fit, changing career or moving to a new country can seem almost insurmountable before it is broken down. However, when you start making a list of the steps you need to follow in order to reach your major goal, your mind starts to see your task as a list of small, achievable goals. Ticking off items on a list also provides tangible proof of progress, boosting motivation.
5. They help you hold onto ideas
Creative people benefit from lists because they allow even the vaguest of ideas to be recorded for later development. For example, an academic might keep a list of ideas for research papers, adding to this at random moments of the day and returning to it when there is time to start a new project. Similarly, someone working on a novel may hold onto a notebook where ideas for character development can be jotted down the moment they occur.
6. They facilitate choice
Many people instantly declare a need to make a list the moment a difficult decision arises, and with good reason. Writing down a list of pros and cons for each possible choice sometimes reveals that there has been a clear winner all along, especially if you assign numerical values to the various benefits and pitfalls on your lists. Lists can also help with choice when you feel backed into a corner, as they help you step away from feelings of panic and allow your brain to focus in on seeing all possible courses of action.
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7. They combat defense mechanisms
When you make a list of particular tasks you need to accomplish and display it in a prominent place, it’s harder for your brain to trick itself into finding excuses to avoid unpleasant or tedious tasks. The mind is very good at “forgetting” the things that scare or bore you, and lists can help to keep you on track.
Tips for developing lists
1. Consider carrying a small notebook everywhere you go, especially if you have difficulty holding on to passing ideas. Armed with your notebook, inspiring ideas and important goals can be jotted down before they have a chance to slip away.
2. Try making a ‘to do’ list for each day of the week. This approach will ensure that you are not overwhelmed by a daunting comprehensive list of every single ‘to-do’. This approach doesn’t suit everyone, but a 7-10 day trial will show you whether these types of lists can boost your productivity or increase your engagement with life.
3. Experiment with creative ways of making lists. After all, they don’t just have to be lines of text. You can use color, doodle pictures, make charts or employ any other method that appeals to you.
4. Think about where to place your lists. For example, a list of the day’s tasks might be best placed above your desk, while a motivating list of goals for the year could find a home above your mirror so that you see it every morning when you’re getting ready to go out.
5. Try to finish each job on a task list before moving on to another. Studies show that an awareness of unfinished tasks undermines overall cognitive performance.
Many people consider list-making as an old-fashioned thing but it’s actually helpful.
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