I’m one of those people. You know – the kind who has a list for everything. Things I need to do, places I want to visit, books to read, even things I want to learn someday. I ended up making up a wishlist before i moved to the states which was one of the coolest thing im proud of haha! There’s just something calming and satisfying about putting thoughts into a list and then checking things off one by one. Honestly, it’s a little addictive.
Just yesterday, I was on a walk with one of my friends (who I lovingly call the cool cat lady), and – surprise, surprise – we ended up talking about… lists. Her birthday is coming up soon, and while chatting, we realized she had quite the list of things she wanted to do before her big day – solo travel, learn water skiing, visit Redwood National Park, and more. It made me wonder: don’t we all have those kinds of lists? A list of things we hope to do someday – and maybe even a quiet list of things we tell ourselves we’ll never do.
That got me thinking: Are to-do lists actually helpful? Or is it just the dopamine hit of checking things off that keeps us hooked?
The Psychology Behind Why Lists Work
While digging into this idea, I stumbled upon a research paper titled “Consider it done!” The gist? When we commit to a specific plan to complete a task, we actually tend to think about it less. That sounds counterintuitive at first – shouldn’t planning make us think more about it? But no. Making a plan gives our brain the assurance that the task is handled. It doesn’t have to keep reminding us anymore.
I tried this myself. For the past few months, “Visit Austria” had been floating around my brain on loop – at work, while commuting, even during dinner. But the moment I booked the flights, the mental chatter reduced drastically. It’s like my brain said, “Ah, finally. You’ve got this covered. lol”
Then I came across something else fascinating: the Zeigarnik effect.
What’s the Zeigarnik Effect?
It’s a psychological phenomenon that says we tend to remember unfinished or interrupted tasks better than completed ones. That’s why you can’t stop thinking about all the things you haven’t done yet – your brain is keeping them active until you resolve them.
But here’s the trick: writing down the task and making a specific plan helps neutralize that effect. It tells your brain, “Relax. I’ve got a plan.” And that plan reduces both stress and mental clutter.
When we externalize our goals – put them on paper, break them into steps, and create timelines – we reduce anxiety and increase the likelihood of success. It’s not just about dreaming; it’s about making the dream feel real and doable.
So, How Do You Beat the Overwhelm?
If you’re constantly feeling like you have 173,927 things to do but don’t know where to start — try this two-step formula:
1. Create a list.
Write down everything you want to do or everything that’s bugging you.
2. Make a plan.
You don’t have to act on it all right away. Just break each big item into small, achievable steps.
Take my Austria trip, for example. Instead of “Visit Austria in 2025,” I now have:
- Decide which cities to visit in Austria
- Book flight tickets
- Apply for visa
- Buy travel essentials
- Research fun cafes and hikes
- Practice a little German (okay, maybe that one’s a stretch but why not?)
Now, instead of one giant, vague goal haunting me, I have tiny goals that feel exciting to work on.
Lists Give You Momentum
That’s the secret power of lists. They don’t just organize your life – they energize it. Each tick mark is a small win, and each plan is a step toward clarity.
So, what’s on your list right now? And more importantly – what’s your plan for it?
Maybe it’s time to stop letting unfinished thoughts bounce around your head and start putting them on paper. You don’t have to do everything today. But you can make a plan!
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