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List-making can offer a variety of benefits.

When we cross something off a list, we enjoy a little dopamine hit of satisfaction.

Check the evidence, then create lists that work in your favor.

Listing is trending, and has been for a while (like, maybe since the advent of pen and papyrus?). Every time we cross or check something off, we enjoy a little dopamine hit of satisfaction. Some even say if you write it down, you’ll “manifest” it. I don’t disagree, and we’ll get to that, but here’s a known list of list-y benefits:

Writing things down, digitally or by hand, helps us focus, think, and reflect on our wants and needs.

Taking time to write out what we want to do, plan, or create helps us commit our desires to memory.

Lists can decrease anxiety. There’s a well-known cognitive behavioral technique, “Worry Time.” This is how it works: whenever you notice a worry, write it down. Tell yourself you can’t worry about it until Worry Time, and go on to something else. Then, once daily, give........

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