How Lists Help Me Think More Clearly
When your head feels full, it’s hard to focus. These four simple lists help me offload the noise and keep momentum in the areas that count.
Last week, I shared how I process the thoughts I capture during a Mind Sweep. Deciding whether to toss, save, or act on a thought is hard, but essential.
Until all your commitments are clearly laid out, it’s impossible to make confident, stress-free decisions about what to do in the moment. When you know what you're saying no to, it's easier to say yes.
To do that, you need a way to keep track of the decisions you made while processing. That’s where lists come in.
Why Lists Create Mental Clarity
Our brains are powerful, but they’re not great at organizing information for easy recall. A reliable set of lists helps offload that mental clutter, freeing your mind for more important work like problem solving, decision making, and creative thinking.
The right lists can help you move from mental fog to focused momentum.
4 Essential Lists for Clarity and Focus
The Getting Things Done productivity method recommends four foundational lists. When reviewed regularly, these clear your mind of low-grade stress and mental reminders.
1. Project List
A project is anything requiring more than one step: build a strategy, plan a trip, write a paper, launch a campaign.
Purpose: Keep track of all active projects in your life and work.
Review: Weekly
📌 Pro tip: Every project should have at least one "next action" tied to it.
2. Next Actions List (Your To-Do List)
This list answers the question: “What’s the very next physical, visible step?”
Example: “Research demographics for target market” or “Book interview time with professor.”
Review: Daily
Format: Always start with an action verb; you’re more likely to follow through.
3. Waiting For List
Track everything you’ve delegated or asked others to do.
Example: “MBA team to send slide deck,” “Client to approve draft.”
Review: Weekly
4. Someday/Maybe List
Not everything needs to be done now. Capture ideas worth revisiting later: books to read, side hustles to explore, passion projects.
Review: Monthly
Let this list be fun, messy, and unfiltered.
Where Should You Keep Your Lists?
Anywhere you’ll consistently use them. On paper. A plain text file. An intricate to-do app.
What matters most is:
Easy capture – low friction means better follow-through
Easy review – your mind must trust you’ll see it again
Start simple. Create the habit first, then upgrade your tools.
A Look Behind My Curtain
I use Todoist to manage all my lists. Why?
It syncs across all devices (laptop, phone, iPad) – Easy review
It understands natural language. I can type “Call eye doctor Monday” and it creates the reminder for Monday. – Easy capture
Your Move
Decide where you want to keep your lists. Keep it simple. Then start using them.
Small habit, big impact.