Get organized: facciamo insieme le tue to-do lists

Everything you need to know about lists!

This is a special I AM A GEM Italian/English edition - I thought we needed a newsletter about method 101 and here we are! The world is changing at a rapid pace, and this post is for the sake of our peace.

—Domenica 6 ottobre uscirà la newsletter classica—

This piece of writing took me sometime <3 you can decide to hit the ‘upgrade subscription’ button and support me at the end!

“The journey is long and full of terror yet I inch forward”, screenshot dal profilo instagram @prettybadco

{Questa newsletter è una sorta di laboratorio, quindi prendete fogli penne e colori}

→ To-do lists Sunday Lab!

I AM A GEM when I take care of you!! As per usual, reading this post on the Substack app or website is cooler.

Questa newsletter l’ho scritta per salvaguardare i vostri sogni, ok? Trattarli come tratto i miei. Sopravvivere non è semplice in this economy ma è possibile facendo liste. Io ho liste per ogni cosa e in questa newsletter condivido tutto quello che so sulle liste.

Everything I know about lists!

This newsletter is devided into two parts: LISTS and HACKS (piccole cose che mi hanno cambiato la vita).

Do we have to stay on top of the game? Not really.
Should we try, though? Well, we should, for the sake of our dreams and goals!

Ottobre: il mese perfetto per fare le liste.
Historically, October is the month of sowing, cleaning the garden, cutting perennial plants, preparing for winter and, most importantly, preparing to collect Spring’s incredible treasures. So, let’s get some work done in this crucial month.
Let’s befriend demons (fun fact: did you know that we wear masks for Carnival as a way to celebrate the monsters dwelling underground, who guard our seeds? cool right?!). Let’s befriend procastination! In the coziest month of coziness, let’s take some evenings for ourselves, and pen-write lists, and do lists, and draw visual boards… of lists!

I hope you’ll come back to this post whenever you need! xx

My notes’ folders

How to create your lists?

Every winter, I *force* my friends to come over and make lists. So, please, take a big piece of paper and make your lists as you read this newsletter.
This post is like a sunday-organizing-workshop!

MAKE YOUR LISTS WITH ME:
There are two types of lists: analogic (on paper) and digital (on apps)

→ Lists I do on paper

1. Yearly Plan
These types of lists are usually made on A3 paper, using colorful pen. I recommend taking a pen and devide the paper into 4 and then write down the following titles for each area:
One:
> THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO in 2025 (max 5 things)
Two:
> PROFESSIONAL GOALS 2025
Three:
> LAST YEAR LEFT OVER GOALS (cose che non abbiamo fatto quest’anno, ma avremmo voluto)
Four:
> 2024: DOUBTS AND JOYS I CARRY WITH ME (What were the bigget doubts/questions weighting you down? What were the joys keeping you going?)
Now take about 30 minutes to fill with your answers.

2. List of fears
I keep this list in my little paper journal, as it changes often—almost daily—and is based on my feelings. My advice is to keep an evening journal where you put down some fears and achievements, just to track how they (you) evolve.

3. The circle method
It’s hard to explain this theory of mine, lol, but it’s very helpful, so I’ll draw it (this is just a silly example). Take a piece of paper and create a visual representation of the different areas of your life: YOURSELF, UNI, WORK, HOBBIES, etc. Then, branch them out by adding all the little things related to each topic, focusing especially on the ones that worry you the most.

4. Special Errands (a piece of paper on my bedside table):
On this piece of paper, I write down things that need fixing, mending, are broken, or are about to run out. It’s like a list of special errands that require a bit more time or money.

5. Lists of friends (this is the weirdest, I know!)
I have an A3 paper with a long list of all my friends: where in the world they live, to whom I owe particular thanks to, friends I would invite to a party, and friends I need to distance myself from (ops).


→ Lists I do on my phone (notes, etc)

1. Career-related goals (these are 5 years goals, so shoot high!):
For this one, it’s also helpful to be very specific. Write down the names of the people or companies you’d like to collaborate with, or the magazines you’d love to be featured in. Worst case, your standards of admiration have changed!

2. To-dos:
Under this category, you could also include lists like "to-visit," "to-watch," etc. My to-dos are divided into daily tasks (in google calendar) and monthly tasks under specific objectives (in notes). Make sure you have no more than 5 to-dos per day (besides work). For example, here’s my to-do list for tomorrow:

3. Saved Instagram Folders:
Every time I see something I want to save on my Instagram feed, I have a dedicated place for it. My “Saved” folders are divided like this: memes, news, books, movies, places to visit, outfit ideas, artists, jobs, cool people to meet, and... a folder called Family for ideas for my future baby’s bedroom or kids’ activities. LOOOOL, I’m so delulu at this point!

4. Grocery list:
Honestly, this never changes (I buy veggies at the farm, so they automatically change with the seasons), which is why it's helpful to keep this in your notes. I’m sharing it because it helps me save so much money throughout the month. Even though I make "meal plans," I rarely end up eating those meals on the specific days I planned, but I’ve discovered that it still works!

5. Work-related lists
I keep work lists in my notes re: steps to plan an exhibition and steps to plan an event

6. Books lists (read, want to read, reading)
I keep my book lists on the goodread app, my account is isquatmybrain if you want to follow me <3

7. Other
Lists of habits for a healthy body, lists of links of things to read (i’ll share my todays readings at the end of this newslwetter!), lists of things to do with a lover, etc. etc.

Let me know what other list could be helpful!

Screen dall’account @fromhumor

Life hacks that changed my adult life for the best!

(alcuni piccoli trucchi che ti svoltano la vita)

HACKS 4 LIFE:

• Keep a poetry book by your toilet or next to the bath (my pick is a big collection by Audre Lorde)

• Pinch your finger really hard (without anyone noticing) when someone says something triggering; focus on the pain, not on their words