I’m a Serial To-Do List Writer.

Why? Some might think it’s to avoid doing actual work. My brother in med school jokes that I might have an attention issue. Others say it’s just about chasing that little dopamine hit from checking something off — but honestly, isn’t that the point? It’s not like I’m making a whole spreadsheet just to remind myself to hydrate…sometimes.

The truth is: I love it.

I love making my to-do lists on pink flashcards — the same kind I used in high school to study for AP Psych. I love writing them in my pink pen. I love writing them, period. I’ve finally stopped putting time stamps on each task (because that was a little unhinged), but the ritual remains. It is a form of meditation.

One side of the card is what I plan to do before bed. The other side is for what I might save for tomorrow. Sometimes it’s something simple like taking clothes out of the dryer and folding them, or scheduling an email to go out at 8 a.m. for work. Sometimes it’s more creative, like making a Pinterest mood board for an upcoming brand campaign. These tasks are small but meaningful — they clear my mental clutter.

The list always evolves throughout the day — reorganized, reformatted — because life happens. But I live for the moment I get to cross something off or check that box in my Notion app.

As someone constantly thinking about how to be creative in my work, my music, even what I’m making for dinner, it’s hard to juggle all those thoughts without writing them down. Otherwise, those really unique ideas — ones I promise myself I’ll remember — end up in the mental archive of doom, where they only appear again when I’m definitely unable to write them down like when I’m driving.

The brain loves clarity. Writing things down helps offload the noise. It signals to your brain that things are under control, easing any stress that comes from trying to hold too much in your head. I feel so put together when I have my to-do list. My Notes app is overflowing with them. And honestly? I keep the wild ones from the days when I got a ton done — because they remind me of how much I can accomplish when I’m organized. They’re proof that being intentional creates space not just for productivity, but also for joy, rest, and sanity.

Because yes, sometimes even self-care feels like a task during times when I go too hard and all I want to do is bed rot. But the to-do lists keep me in motion. They help me stay in flow — even when the task is literally just “eat lunch and watch SNL.” These lists are like a visual contract with myself. They keep me honest. They help me do the things I know will make me feel better.

Funny enough, writing this wasn’t on my to-do list today. But the idea came to me while I was writing mine, which proves the point.

Keep romanticizing your life — even your to-do lists.

--- You can also read this post on Medium.