The benefits of making lists & 15 lists that will help organize your life

This blog post is going to share with you the benefits of list making and 15 lists that will help you get your life together.

As a mom, my life can sometimes feel like an open internet browser with 3941 open tabs running at all times. Having an organized calendar, consistent routines and structures can really help. However, there is one thing that has completely changed my life in terms of mental organization.

Making lists.

Back when I started learning about bullet journaling, I started getting in the habit of making lists. I would whip out my notebook and just start making running lists of things going on in my mind. This did two things for me; one, it helped my mind calm down and leave me to feel more grounded in the day to day. two, it gave me more time.

Over the years I have cultivated a list of the lists that make life feel more balanced and organized and I am going to share 15 of them with you. Before I do that, I want to tell you some of the health and wellbeing benefits that making lists can do for you.

The benefits of making lists:

• Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness. When making lists, you engage in a form of mindfulness. You become present in the moment as you assess your tasks and intentions. This mindfulness helps prevent the mind from wandering into future worries or past regrets, promoting a sense of calm and contentment.

• Stress Reduction through Organization. Organizing your thoughts into lists creates a sense of order in your life. This organization minimizes the stress that can come from feeling overwhelmed by an ever-growing to-do list. Having a clear plan helps you prioritize tasks, making them feel more manageable and achievable.

• Reduced Mental Clutter and Anxiety. The act of making lists allows you to transfer your thoughts from your mind onto paper or a digital device. This simple action helps declutter your mind, providing a sense of relief from mental chaos. By externalizing your thoughts, you free up mental space, reducing anxiety and promoting a clearer, calmer state of mind.

• Enhanced Focus and Productivity. Lists serve as roadmaps for your day, breaking down tasks into actionable steps. This structured approach enhances your focus and productivity. As you check off items on your list, you experience a sense of accomplishment that boosts your mood and motivation to tackle the next task.

• Avenue for Creative Expression. Lists are not limited to tasks; they can also include ideas, goals, dreams, and more. This flexibility provides an avenue for creative expression and self-discovery. By listing your aspirations and interests, you engage in a positive, self-affirming activity that fosters a sense of purpose.

Okay, now that you know the benefits of making lists, I want to help set you up with the proper tools for list making.

I suggest using a spiral notebook, something small that you don’t mind carrying around with you. I personally am obsessed with the Bando spiral notebooks, they feel so good to write in and I love that they can lay flat and sit with just one page open. As I got more into making lists, I switched over to a disc bound spiral notebook.

Here’s how to set up your lists:

Grab your notebook and make a title page for each list. You can even make a directory at the front of your notebook with a numbered list and then use post it tabs to label each page with the number associated.

15 lists that will help organize your life:

1. Monthly intentions. I like to set intentions for the month ahead that help give my month clarity and focused direction. ( ex. gym 3 times per week, more meal planning, etc. ) I also list out the affirmations I’m currently working with to reprogram my subconscious mind.

2. Things to buy. I keep a running list of things I need to get.

3. Master to-do list. Anything I need to get done, goes on this list.

4. Spending list. I like to keep a list of what I spend on during the month so I can pay attention to my spending.

5. Recipe list. I like to include things I want to try or make.

6. Things to clean out / declutter. Each area of the home you need to tackle goes down on the list so you can check it off when you’re done.

7. Inventory list. Toilet paper, paper towels, supplies, etc.

8. Appointments to make list. Any and all appointments need to go on this list. Dump your brain with all the things you need to schedule in.

9. Fitness plan. Make your monthly goals around your health and wellness.

10. Emails/Cards/Notes to send. This always helps me to remember birthdays for the month or just to make sure I stay in touch with long distance friends.

11. Errands to run.

12. Bills to pay.

13. Books to read/shows to watch.

14. Restaurants to try/ places to check out. This will always help when you need to find a place to go to dinner, especially if you want to try new places.

15. Things to manifest. This might be my favorite list. Keep a running list of anything and everything that you want to manifest into your life. It really helps to write it down and act as if you just put an order into the universe.

Listen to this episode of the Blissfully Ambitious podcast where I break down each list more specifically for you. Hope you enjoy.

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10 simple yet effective tips to FENG SHUI your home office

I ended 2022 feeling a little stuck.

As the days were winding down on the year, I was finding myself without a clear vision of what I wanted for 2023. I couldn’t focus. It felt like ‘hard work’ to sit at my desk and create things that normally felt so flowy and fluid to me.

One beautiful December day I was sitting at my desk, staring blankly at my computer. I felt like I had a million and one things to do but I couldn’t get myself focused.

So, I grabbed my computer, headed to my favorite local coffee shop and was able to focus myself and get. shit. done. And I did. I was moving and grooving on all the things that were on my list. Which let me know, it wasn’t me…it was my work environment.

As any Feng Shui expert knows, your space will always have a major impact on your life experience. Your ability to “flow”. So, when I wasn’t flowing, I knew changing up my environment was the first thing I needed to do.

WHY YOU SHOULD FENG SHUI YOUR OFFICE:

Here’s the thing…Your home will either support you in creating and attracting your dreams and goals or it will totally have you operating in the self-sabotage mode. Procrastination, indecision, self-doubt, analysis paralysis…all forms of self-sabotage, especially when it comes to work. When your home is out of alignment, it will amplify these behaviors in your life.

Your brain’s primary job is to keep you safe, so it continually will scan your environment for perceived threats. It is always on alert. So, that little mess in the corner, that unopened pile of mail, that broken door knob, that overstuffed closet, that dead plant, the incorrectly hung piece of art, the lack of color…it is always affecting your mind, body, energy and emotions. When you are out of alignment, you won’t be showing up for your work or anything else as your best and highest self.

As a double Capricorn, I am always committed to showing up to everything I do as my best self. So for me, having a home office environment that supports my success is imperative for my success.

Before the end of the year, I made some feng shui changes to my home office and I am not even kidding you when I tell you that I have been ON FIRE with the content that I have been creating in 2023. Just take one look at my podcast episodes to see how ‘in flow’ I have been. My focus has been renewed, my clarity is crystal clear and the creative ideas are just flowing in consistently. It’s time for you to do the same!

Let me walk you through exactly what I do to make sure my home office is energetically aligned with harmony and flow.

Other interesting articles on Feng Shui:

• 9 Feng Shui secrets to manifest love

• How to activate your Feng Shui money corner

• 10 simple everyday Feng Shui habits

Top 10 tips to Feng Shui Your Home Office

1. De-cluttering.

   This is always where you start. You must get rid of anything that doesn’t align with where you want to go or who you want to be.

   Now here is the thing about de-cluttering that I want to get across. You DO NOT have to go on a trash spree and throw absolutely everything out if that doesn’t feel good to you. It’s not about having nothing, it’s about having everything that doesn’t belong go and creating a “home” for everything that does. For example, I have a hand made jewelry business so you can imagine how much “stuff” I have accumulated the support that business. I’m not going to throw away all the clutter, I just had to get very intentional to organize what I do have so that every little thing has a place to live and function.

   Everything that you keep in that office has to support your goals and dreams, not just sit there with no intention.

2. Decorate with intention.

   Absolutely everything in your space should have a meaning or intention. So, as you are de-cluttering and deciding whether something should stay or go, you want to ensure that it has one of 3 things, function, meaning or intention. Everything else needs to go.

   The reason you do this is because when your eyes hit that item, it registers in your brain what it means. What is that item saying to you?

3. Choose colors that captivate you.

When I was feeling stuck I noticed that my office didn’t really have a lot of color. My curtains were a neutral color at first because I couldn’t really commit to a specific color for my office. Well, this translated to a lack of focus in my work. Without being able to pick a color, I wasn’t motivated in any direction. You see, there is nothing wrong with neutrals. It’s very popular in today’s modern design trends. However, your soul craves colors and color energy is healing to the spirit. So, depending on what color your soul feels inspired by, a lack of that color may have you feeling a little uninspired.

I used blush pink curtains to help inspire me and the second I switched out my neutral curtains for the blush pink ones, I felt a surge of energy in my work days. I also noticed I wanted to be in my office for longer periods of time. The entire energy of the room shifted when I added some color.

Hot Tip: trust yourself when it comes to choosing your colors. Don’t over think how the room will look to everyone else. Part of feng shui is decorating for your own personal alignment, not what might look trendy on social media. Check yourself and notice what your intentions are behind your home office decor.

4. Sit in the command position.

The command position is excellent energy in Feng Shui. What the “command” position means is when you are sitting, you are facing the entry of the room. This way you are sitting in an energetic position to see any and all opportunities or energy that might come your way. When you are facing away from the entry, you may ‘miss out’ on said opportunities.

Before I got this tulip table for my home office, I was sitting with my back to the entry of the room and I am telling you, I was so blocked when it came to work. I never could get anything done and I often moved to work in my dining room. That’s how much I know the command position affects your home office. Having a solid wall behind you will have you feeling grounded and supporting in working towards your goals in your work/business. Also, a nicely styled wall behind you looks great in any zoom call.

Hot tip: if it is impossible for you to sit in the command position, you can place a mirror on the wall in front of you, that way you can see the entryway.

my home office decorating picks:

5. Bring in a snake plant.

or other plants that harmonize the space. Snake plants are excellent feng shui. They are said to attract prosperity, fortune and growing success. In addition to that, they are extremely helpful in absorbing the harmful radiation that technology emits. I like to keep my snake plants near my computer or anything that uses wifi.

Plants also represent and promote the energy of vitality and growth. So, keep your office filled with your favorite plants to help surround you with the energy of growth and you will align with growth in your work, business and personal growth, too.

6. Decorate in pairs.

Pairs of anything in Feng Shui represent harmony and balance in partnerships and relationships. Most Feng Shui experts recommend decorating in pairs in the bedroom to attract love, you can read my “how to manifest love with feng shui” e-book here. However, I also believe that healthy relationships is the key to success in business. So, when it comes to my work space, I like to use pairs to promote healthy, balanced and reciprocal relationships for my business. Notice I created two work spaces with a pair of brass mushroom lamps and two chairs to create “balance”.

This will represent the energy of being “open for relationship opportunities”. Great for anyone in sales, coaching, services because your energy will be ripe for new relationships in your business!

7. Use motivating and inspiring artwork.

The images that you look at repetitively will penetrate into your subconscious mind and affect your energy while you work. Behind me sits a piece of art I created with one of my favorite quotes by Marianne Williamson about shining bright and sharing our gifts with the world. Even just looking at the quote boosts my work morale and reminds me to show up in my work and shine!

Hot tip: your certifications, awards or accomplishments, your vision board…all of these things are good to hang in your office and remind you of your accomplishments and will help motivate you. Images you don’t want: pictures of your kids (unless this is your purpose for work), romantic photos, family photos, images of anyone sad or images that bring up negative memories for you.

8. Light Candles.

There are so many reasons I love candles. The ambiance, the aromas, the soft light glow. The most important part of having a candle in your office space is that it represents the FIRE energy in feng shui. For optimal alignment in a space, you want to have all 5 elements working together; metal, fire, earth, wood, water. Fire energy activates your manifestations and intentions. It also boosts your fame, reputation and influence, perfect vibe for your home office.

Every time I begin my work day, I light a candle and speak an intention into the flame. Because fire activates, you can use a candle to help boost the motivation, passion and energy in your work day.

9. Crystals.

We all know how much I love crystals and love to keep gorgeous crystals in my home office. I even wrote an entire ebook on how to feng shui your home & manifest with crystals, grab the e-book here.

4 crystals I recommend to use in your home office:

1. Citrine. Citrine amplifies your ability to manifest prosperity and success.

2. Amethyst. It’s a spiritual crystal that opens up your crown chakra to help you connect with your divine guidance and receive divine downloads. It also promotes your connection with the vibration of abundance, limiting the thoughts of lack.

3. Carnelian. This crystal boosts your sacral chakra and unblocks your creative ideas.

4. Blue Laced Agate. Helps to unblock the throat chakra and improve your communication.

10. Edit your books.

Make sure that the books you are reading and the ones you keep around you are in alignment with where you want to go, not who you used to be. For example, books on getting out of debt will keep you stuck in debt because that is the vibration that book holds.

Books like guided journals for example, serve the intention of personal growth and more self love which are really helpful to have around you.

I keep a stack of the books I have written around me as reminders of accomplishments and goals I have completed. That carries a motivating and inspiring energy for me. I also use my own guided journal, The Daily Bliss , as a daily exercise and high vibe habit.

So, these are 10 things you can do to elevate the energy in your home office to support your success throughout your day. I am passionate about teaching women how to work smarter, not harder when it comes to creating a full life that you absolutely love. A life that feels like bliss.

It begins at home.

Learn my method that I created to create a HIGH VIBE HOME that is aligned with the life you want to live. Take a peek at my workshop here.

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST EPISODE: