Do you have trouble remembering “the little things”? If your answer was even a tiny bit “yes”, then you need to know what lists to keep in your planner to help organize your entire life!
Get more tips for calendar ideas for the home and organization here.
Life can get a little bit busy. When it does, it becomes really challenging to stay on top of all the things you have going on.
A fail proof method to help you remember details is to write ‘it’ down!
But, unless you are diligent about having one location to write important details, chances are good you won’t even refer back to your list.
This is why I’m a firm believer in using the blank pages at the back of your planner for important lists. Today, I’m sharing my top lists to keep in your planner for improved organization.
It will likely get your wheels turning for list ideas in your own life!
Favorite Planner Accessories
- Adhesive sticker sheets (customize a page, print, cut to fit planner if needed, and put in your notes section)
- Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (great pens for colored ink that has minimal to no bleed through)
- Pilot Precise V5 RT (my personal favorite ink pen)
- Ruler that fits in planner to use as needed
- Washi Tape (makes everything prettier!)
Lists to Keep In Your Planner:
1. When Did I last…
I’ve been keeping a “when did I last” page in my planner for several years.
I first saw it when I was introduced to the bullet journal world. It’s a very common bullet journal spread, but I think anyone could benefit from it regardless of what daily planner you prefer.
The idea is to have a list of things you need to keep track of periodically. By penciling in ‘when you last’ did something, you are less likely to forget.
For example, I struggle to remember when I change the air filters in our HVAC system.
By taking a couple of minutes to write it in my planner, I am much more likely to stay on top of it later!
Inspiration for “When did I last” list from Bohoberry.com
2. Medical / Doctor Visits
(I omitted names of my kids and doctors. You know, HIPAA and all;-)
As a speech pathologist, I see patients that go from doctor to doctor with various medical situations.
A common issue is that people forget specific recommendations or suggestions their doctor’s make. They also regularly lose track of when they’ve seen a medical professional.
Doctor’s visits can be a bit stressful, so writing down the details as soon as you learn them will save you from forgetting important recommendations!
In the middle of a visit, you may feel you have a perfect understanding of everything the doctor or specialist mentions.
But, it is really easy to neglect to schedule a future appointment that is recommended or follow up with all the details if you don’t write it down.
Since we do not make regular visits to doctors, I can get away with having only a one-page log to keep track of all of our family doctor visits.
I like to track the date, specialist seen, family member, and ANY recommendations or suggestions from the visit.
3. Car Maintenance Log
A simple log to track oil changes, general car maintenance, new tires, etc. is all that is needed.
When I get any car service done, I like to write down the mileage as well.
4. Books to Read
I love a good book!
If I hear someone I trust recommend a ‘must read’ book, I take note. As soon as I get a moment, I jot the title and author in my planner.
When I have time to check out a book, I refer to my list to see if anything sparks interest!
5. Movies / TV Shows to Watch
The same with movies and television programs – If a friend mentions a fantastic movie or television series, I try to write it down.
Jason, my husband, and I love to unwind at night and watch a show together.
If we are struggling to find something good, it’s nice to have a recommendations list to guide us!
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6. Birthday / Anniversary Tracking Log
I created this birthday and anniversary tracking loga couple of years ago and love it! Plug in the special dates of your friends and family and you are set!
What works best for me is to print it on a full size adhesive label, trim it to the size of my planner, and stick it write into the NOTES section of my planner.
Grab a copy of my birthday and anniversary calendar printable!
7. Gift Ideas
Who doesn’t love a thoughtful gift, right?!
Unfortunately, when someone’s birthday or Christmas comes around, most of us are lost and unable to come up with any creative ideas.
A solution is keeping a list of gift ideas for important people in your life!
If a fun or meaningful gift idea pops up, write it down! Then when their special day rolls around, you are prepared with thoughtful ideas.
8. Vacation Ideas
I’m not the best vacation planner.
So, when someone mentions a great place they’ve visited, I get as many details as possible from them so it makes my research a little easier.
Part of the fun of the vacation is the anticipation.
If I have several ideas, then I can dream about fun destinations that my friends and family have suggested while researching our next trip.
9. Fun Weekend Ideas / Rainy Day Ideas / Summer Break Day Trips
Have you ever wasted a day off because you couldn’t think of anything to do?
Keeping a running list of fun things to do in your area is a great way to give you interesting ideas of family adventures should a rare free-day pop up!
My favorite way to come up with ideas is by searching in Trip Adviser.
There are SO many neat things in our own community that we didn’t even knew existed.
Pretend you are a tourist and plan a fun day trip adventure in your own city!
10. Home Projects
Do you have a list of home projects at your house?
Keeping a running list is a great way to prioritize what you are hoping to update as you get time.
One thing I find after making my list, is some of my projects aren’t as necessary as I once thought. Getting it all out on paper really helps to see what we need to do first!
11. Continuing Education Log
If you have a profession that requires continuing education, it’s nice to keep a list of the courses you attend.
Nothing fancy, just a page you can write down the name of the course, location, date, and how many hours you earned.
12. Savings Goals / Spending Log
For whatever reason, budgeting has always been kind of fun for me.
Putting our savings goals on paper is a way for me to feel more accountable with my spending.
Being mindful of purchases is also a fantastic way to stay on target with your savings goals.
At least once every year, I keep track of every purchase for an entire month. No matter how many times I do this, I’m always shocked by the nickel and dime purchases!
Related: Printable Password Tracker Logs
13. Goals for Year, Quarter, and Month
If you struggle a bit with focus, setting goals really helps you to hone in on the WHY you are doing certain things in your life.
For a little nudge setting goals, refer to my post Worksheets to Set Your Goals for the Year, Quarter, Month and Week.
15. Meal Master List
Do you find it difficult to be creative with meal planning for your family?
Keep a master list of your family’s favorite meals in your daily planner!
It is a great way to remind you of meals you haven’t had for a while.
Update the list any time you find a new “favorite” meal!
Freeorganizingprintables.com has a great holiday menu planner you could also print off and add as an insert into your planner!
Don’t forget to pin these ideas to improve your productivity to your favorite Pinterest board!
I hope you found some helpful ideas for lists to keep in your planner!
If you are looking for the perfect daily planner, I rounded up several suggestions in my post: 11 Top Picks for Daily Planners.
Have a wonderful week!
