If you’re feeling that vague end-of-summer sense of unease and overwhelm, this post just might help! These 10 lists to make every August are a simple hack I use each year to get a handle on life and make me feel a little calmer.
You can think of these lists as a somewhat organized brain dump. Plus, they’re a great way to focus on positivity and goal setting.
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August can be a tricky month since it’s the end of summer. You might feel like you haven’t accomplished everything you wanted to do during the summer, or you might be anxious about the upcoming fall or winter season. If you’re an overthinker, these feelings can be even more pronounced.
Why Lists Are A Powerful Tool For Overthinkers
One thing I do to combat this sense of unease is to make lists. Lists can be really powerful for organizing your thoughts and prioritizing your tasks. By making and using lists the ‘right’ way (I’ll talk about that later in this article), you can often reduce your overthinking and feel like you’re making progress… because you ARE.
Here are a few reasons why lists matter:
- Reduce stress: When you have a lot on your plate, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and forgetful. Making a list can help to reduce that by getting all of the random ‘stuff’ out of your head and in front of your face so you can start to make sense of things.
- Increase productivity: By prioritizing your tasks and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps, you might be able to increase your productivity and get more done in less time.
- Improve focus: Written lists help to keep you focused on your goals and what you need to do to achieve them. By having a clear plan in place and NOT constantly having to review and remember a mental list, you can avoid distractions and stay on track.
- Boost confidence: Crossing items off your list can be incredibly satisfying and can give you a sense of accomplishment. This can help to boost your confidence and motivate you to keep going.
So, what kind of lists should you make in August? That depends on your personal dreams and goals along with your priorities. Maybe you want to make the most of the last few weeks of summer by planning some fun activities with friends or family. Or perhaps you need to get organized for the upcoming school year or a big project at work. Whatever’s on your mind, you can make a list for it!
Before you begin any of these lists, you may want to grab my free printable dreams and goals worksheet and my free printable brain dump page.
Lists to Make Every August
To help you get started, here are 10 useful lists to make in August. These lists are designed to help you reflect on your summer, prepare for the fall, get your home in order, and enjoy the end of the summer season.
1. Summer Achievements and Gratitude
Take some time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished this summer. Did you learn a new skill or try a new hobby? Did you spend quality time with loved ones? Did you make a point to sit on the porch and relax every day? Write down your achievements and celebrate your successes.
Along with those achievements, write down some of your summer gratitudes. This can help you shift your focus to the positive things in your life.
2. Back-to-School Preparations
If you or someone in your household is heading back to school, make a list of everything you need to do to prepare. This might include shopping for school supplies, organizing schedules, or arranging transportation.
3. End-of-Summer Bucket List
Make a list of all the things you still want to do before summer ends. This might include visiting a local attraction, trying a new restaurant, or going on a weekend getaway. Check out my summer goals for overthinkers post for more ideas.
4. Home Projects and Maintenance Tasks
Prepare your home for the colder months ahead by making a list of maintenance tasks. This might include cleaning gutters, sealing or repairing windows, stocking ice melt, and scheduling a furnace inspection.
5. Budget and Purchases to Make During the Upcoming Months
Start thinking about your holiday budget now, and make a list of all the expenses you anticipate for the remainder of the year. This might include gifts, travel, or entertaining. Making a plan now will help you prepare your mind and your wallet to avoid overwhelming expenses later.
6. Decluttering and Organizing Tasks
Take advantage of the back-to-school season to declutter and organize your home. Make a list of areas that need attention, and create a plan to tackle them one by one.
Even if you’re not quite ready to get to work now, you’ll be well-prepared to make a fresh start with ideas for fall decluttering and fall cleaning.
7. Reading List for the End of Summer
Make a list of books you want to read before summer ends. This might include a new release, a classic novel, or a memoir.
Related: 10 Books for Your Simple Summer Reading List
8. New Recipes to Try
Make a list of new recipes to try before summer ends. This might include grilling recipes, salads, or refreshing drinks. Bonus points if they’re SIMPLE recipes!
9. Health and Fitness Goals
Set some health and fitness goals, and make a list of the steps you need to take to achieve them. This might include joining a gym, signing up for a fitness class, or making changes to your diet.
This could also include things like:
- Drinking more water
- Getting enough sleep
- Taking breaks throughout the day to stretch or move your body
- Limiting your screen time
Remember, taking care of yourself is important, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed! Grab my printable self-care planner to help you plan and track your healthy self-care tasks.
10. Positive Affirmations
Sometimes, when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, it can be helpful to remind yourself of your own worth and capabilities. Make a list of positive affirmations that you can repeat to yourself when you need a little boost. Some examples include:
- I am capable of handling whatever comes my way.
- I am worthy of love and respect.
- I am doing the best I can, and that is enough.
- I am grateful for all the good things in my life.
How to Use These Lists
If your lists end up being very long, that in itself CAN be overwhelming. You don’t want to get stuck in a cycle of ruminating on your lists and never taking any action. Here are some tips on how to use these lists effectively:
Keep These Big Lists Separate From Your Daily To-Do List
It’s important to keep your big lists separate from your daily to-do list. Your daily to-do list should only contain tasks that you need to complete that day.
By keeping these lists separate, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks you need to complete.
Prioritize Tasks – Focus On ONLY The Most Important
After creating your big lists, it’s important to prioritize tasks. Focus on the most important tasks first. You may even decide to eliminate some things from your list, and that’s totally fine!
By prioritizing tasks, you can ensure that you’re making progress on the things that matter most to you.
Build A Daily Routine That Includes Your Priorities
Daily routine planning can help you stay on track and ensure that you’re making progress on your main goals and priorities.
Try to schedule time each day to work on one or two things from your big lists. This could be as little as 15 minutes a day. By creating a routine, you can make sure that you’re consistently making progress on your big lists.
By following these tips, you can use these lists effectively and reduce overthinking and overwhelm during August. Remember, these lists are meant to help you grow and improve. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to achieve everything at once. Take it one step at a time, and celebrate your successes along the way.
More Help For Overthinkers
Stop Thinking and Start Doing: A Goal Setting Starter Plan
11 Perfect Morning Routine Tips And Tweaks For Overthinkers
How Using Action Words For Goals Will Help You Succeed {Even If You’re An Overthinker}
The One Focus Method — This book contains expanded versions of my most inspirational posts on goal setting and achieving. It also helps you work on building the motivation to follow through on completing projects in short periods of time.
The Goal Journey Annual Goal Planner — This printable goal planner is designed to streamline your goal-setting process, allowing you to focus on one goal at a time and adapt as life evolves. Get the extra stuff out of your head, let go of the regrets and ‘should-dos,’ and start accomplishing the goals that really matter to YOU.
Concluding Thoughts On Making Lists For August…
Please be kind to yourself and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t accomplish everything on your lists. Remember, the purpose of these lists is to help you stay organized and ease your overthinking tendencies during August, not to add more stress to your life.
By breaking down your goals into manageable tasks, you’ll be able to tackle them one by one and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way.
So take a deep breath, grab a pen and paper, and start making those lists. It’s time to embrace the end of summer and look forward to the new opportunities that lie ahead.
You’ve got this!
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