5 lists you should make every month
This site uses affiliate marketing and will earn a commission on purchases made when you click on a link. This is at no extra cost to you. Please read our Disclosure Policy for more details.
Making lists is such an important part of daily life when you’re a stay-at-home Mom. In one day, I may have three lists going at the same time just to keep track of everything. I make lists for everything from groceries to after school activities, to errands that need to be done. The things you can put on a list are limitless.
So why make a list?
For me, making a list is my go-to for keeping track of daily to-dos. It helps me stay organized, prioritize, and stop feeling overwhelmed.
STAY ORGANIZED – I make lists on a daily basis to keep myself organized and focused. By writing down everything all in one place, I can easily see what I need to accomplish throughout the day.
PRIORITIZE – By prioritizing your list, you will see what needs your immediate attention and what can wait till later.
STOP FEELING OVERWELMED – As many stay-at-home Moms already know, daily tasks can become daunting and overwhelming. Making a to-do list will put you at ease knowing that you can and will get things done.
5 lists you should make every month
Although I make lists daily, there are some lists that are repetitive every month. These are for things that I know will need to be done regardless of anything else that life throws my way. Things like grocery shopping and managing the household budget are a constant. Keep your monthly lists in a separate book or planner or even in a separate section of the book you use to write lists. This way it will always be convenient to pull out at any time.
So here are my top 5 lists that every stay-at-home Mom should make each month:
1) monthly goals
Monthly goals are something you set for yourself in order to give you inspiration. They aren’t necessarily tasks that are a priority, but more of a wish list of goals to be completed during the month. For me it’s a way of starting fresh and making the new month the best it can be. It’s about clearing your mind, so you are ready to focus on the month ahead.
Creating a list of monthly goals is a great way to help you stay motivated and productive.
So when you think about what to put on your list of monthly goals, think about things like the following:
Finding a new book to read
Clean and declutter
What will you do for yourself this month?
What are your exercise goals for the month?
Think about what you are grateful for this month
2) A running grocery list
So let’s face it, whether you are a stay-at-home Mom or not, we all need groceries. A running grocery list is a shopping list of all the basic stuff you purchase regularly for your home. Add to it each time you think of something you need. This will stop you from making multiple trips to the store which in turn will save you time and money. Keep this list in your planner or on phone where it is easily accessible and remember to use it each time you go to the store.
Writing things down on the grocery list as you need them helps you remember everything and keeps you organized. For me, it is so much easier to add mayonnaise to the list when I’ve used it up instead of waiting until I go grocery shopping three days later.
A running grocery list can also be helpful for meal planning. This way you have all the ingredients you need and don’t have to spend time running back and forth to the store.
3) list of daily routines
As a stay-at-home Mom, it’s so important to write out a list of the routines or schedules you follow daily. By doing this, you will be able to visualize what you do on a daily basis. It will help you prioritize your tasks and maybe even eliminate some of them too.
Start with your morning routine and make a list of the tasks you do each morning. If you have a baby or toddler, be sure to list nap times if any. If you have school age children, be sure to list each task you accomplish to get them to ready for school. Create the same type of lists for your afternoon routine as well as a bedtime routine. If you’re feeling motivated, add in any other lists of things you do daily such as:
Nap routines
Dinner routines
Bathtime routines
Shopping routines
Cleaning routines
As a stay-at-home Mom, daily routines are a necessity for life. Without them my household would completely fall apart. Ok maybe, not but there would definitely be a lot more chaos and frustration without them. By having your daily routine written down you will feel more in control of your day and less stressed.
4) monthly cleaning list
Another constant household activity is cleaning. As a stay-at-home Mom, every day involves some sort of cleaning. Creating a monthly cleaning list will help you manage your daily cleaning routine as well as create time for those cleaning projects you can never seem to get done. By projects, I mean things like cleaning out closets, organizing your pantry, or purging toys that your kids have outgrown. It could mean giving your kitchen a deep cleaning or pressure washing your deck.
A monthly cleaning list is a game changer for stay-at-home Moms like me. Start each month with a clean slate by getting a head start on household cleaning. Get your basic cleaning done early in the month so you can budget in time for some cleaning projects you would like to get done. This is also a great time to get little ones involved with doing chores such as vacuuming or dusting.
5) monthly budget
We all have monthly expenses so why not get them organized by keeping a running list. I like to keep track of both incoming money and outgoing expenses. By doing this you can keep yourself accountable for monthly spending and stay focused on your savings goals for the month.
There are lots of ways to keep track of your monthly budget. I am a more visual person so I like to keep my lists on paper. A monthly budget planner is perfect for this. If you use a binder for monthly lists, you could definitely keep your budget there as well.
You may find that creating a spreadsheet or using an app on your phone works better for you. There are so many ways to keep track of your monthly budget. It’s just a matter of finding one that you like best. The more comfortable you are with using it, the more likely you are to keep a monthly budget going.
Once you get through the first couple of months, you will begin to see how many unnecessary things you spend money on. Maybe you don’t need that coffee on the way home from shopping. Maybe you are making too many trips to the grocery store each month. A monthly budget will help put things in perspective.
make a fresh start to every month and stay organized
Keeping monthly lists will help you stay organized and make more time to do the things you love. After all, as stay-at-home Moms, we all need some time to do something we enjoy.
For more tips to help you stay organized, read Make Lists To Save Time And Stay Organized and Buzzy Bee Time Management
