My Obsession with Lists - How to Achieve your Design & Life Goals in 2025
The furthest thing from a smug post, more of a necessity for a scrambled brain.
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Following on from my January Funk (and for some that funk can be hard to get out of) post from Tuesday, which is now out of the paywall and free to read or listen to for a while, I thought it might be a good idea to delve deeper into my life-long obsession with lists as so many of you seemed interested. What I’m hoping is that by explaining my slightly ridiculously OTT method, which you can adapt and simplify to suit you, it might help you to achieve some, if not all of your home and garden goals, however large or small, for this year.
In fact, my system works for any kind of goal, so if you’re thinking about a new career this year, or you want to finally start a Substack and write, or even just tick those places off the list that you’ve always wanted to visit, but never have, then read on.
I want to make it very clear that I am not in any way a naturally organised person. In fact, I’m a bit of a shambles without being super strict with myself and setting goals, whether that be weeding the garden, or planning to take the literary world by storm, neither of which I have achieved yet. But, I’m closer to realising these little dreams by utilising the good old fashioned pen to paper method and writing the bloody lot down.
Lists are the only way I’m able to achieve the things I want/need to do. They are the only way I can remember everything and the best way to keep my spirits up throughout the year. Gradually ticking off things that I’ve achieved feels so good, it’s like getting your essay back from the teacher and there’s a big circled ‘A’ on the top and maybe even a gold star. If the teacher’s hot even better. You can’t help but be chirpy.
My little secret
I’ll let you into a little secret: with every list that I start I add at least two things I’ve already done and a few that are super easy to the point that my blind dog could achieve them and in probably less time. It tricks the mind into thinking that you are indeed god of all list makers and deserve a medal just for being alive. Works every time. The point is, lists are not just a way to organise your world, they are, in essence, the happy pill of self-life coaching, the dopamine hit of the diarist, and I think everyone should be just a little bit addicted.
I was told a few years ago about the actor Matthew McConaughey‘s list habits. If you think I’m crazy, wait until you hear this! He writes a list for everything. I mean, everything! He does a daily list and adds things like: get up, have breakfast, shower, walk the dog! I kid you not my friends. Sounds like he’s totally off his rocker doesn’t he? But, I can see where he’s coming from. By adding in things that you damn well know you are going to do and ticking them off, you set yourself up for a successful day. I mean, you’re already winning by 8.30am! It has to be a good day ahead, right?
One minute it’s New Year, the next it’s Valentine’s Day
January has come and gone and for many of us, here we are somehow in February with not a lot to show for it. That’s ok though. For me, January and February, at least before Valentine’s Day, is all about taking the quiet time to plan and dream. It’s the weeks where I usually prepare for the busier months ahead and write down my goals and aspirations. Putting them to paper seems to make things much clearer in my mind.
So don’t be disheartened, it’s not too late to make some plans and get excited about 2025. But, if you don’t at least think about the year ahead soon, then before you know it we’ll be talking about BBQs and hosepipe bans (god willing!) and then with a click of the fingers and a sashay of the hips it’ll be Christmas bauble time again. So setting some goals is important and you need to do it now!
I’m not to talking about resolutions, I don’t believe in them. They can stuff it, quite frankly. I always find you end up a little disheartened and jaded when they don’t come to pass. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you‘ve failed abysmally by the second week of the year.
For me, these weeks are just to reflect, plan and revive the soul. None of this dry January, or Veganuary nonsense. What even is that? Did you do any of those? I triumphantly did not. It’s often a dark old time and I need every vice I can get my hands on legally to get through to spring. I’m fully aware that I’ve got to lose a little quite a lot of weight and I know that I need to drink less drink a lot less and exercise more. Let’s think about that when it’s a little warmer though, shall we? What I do start though is a list. Well, lots of lists, actually!
Make time for you
It’s so incredibly easy after the merriment of the festive season to get bogged down with daily routine. Life is so incredibly fast paced now, there seems to be so little time nowadays. It’s so important to make space in your life for the unexpected, the surprise, or just a moment of peace, a space to breathe and think and to allow things to happen. Writing things down, creating a list, can be the best way to make that space. It’s not all about the jobs that need to be done. It’s also about you and remembering that you and your health and wellbeing matter. That fun and enjoyment matter!
In recent years with the super charged house renovations, selling up again and moving on, I definitely did not do this for myself. My body and mind have really suffered as it was all about the house and garden. So, in 2025, I want to make sure that I remember that I matter to. The barn and garden will get done when they get done, and believe me, there will be lists galore for those, but I’m a bit of a mess right now, actually. I seem to have been constantly ill since October, and with my condition that is not good.
But also, since giving up smoking in April 2023, one of my favourite secret bad habits in the whole world (I know many of you will be surprised), I have piled on the weight. Add to that my love of wine, the perfect storm of finishing all the DIY and gardening work at our last house and our dog Missy deciding she didn’t want to go for walks anymore, well, you can guess why I’m now a tad rotund. They aren’t excuses. I could have done so much more to have stayed fit, but I just didn’t. So, it’s time to think about looking after myself and writing down what I want out of life. Not just in my career, but in daily life, particularly as the whole renovation thing is about to start all over again.
The Essential Planner
Up until a few years ago, my lists were always on scraps of paper. They would either be lost, or gradually get tattier throughout the year, so that by December they were begging to be euthanised humanely. Then I discovered The Essential Planner by Emily Rollings and it changed my life. I can’t do without it now.
Each year it’s slightly different, but one year there was a byline on the front that read: “Plan less, live more.” I loved that, albeit a bit of a contradiction considering it’s a planner, but the idea is that you write things down once and then actually do them.
The planner is full of inspirational quotes and clever little areas like: ‘monthly goals’, ‘slow time’, ‘for myself this week’ and ‘space to think’. It’s now on sale with 33% off and definitely not too late to start it.
The main To Do List
Every year I start with an over-arching To Do List. This forms the framework for the year. Each point on the list is a main goal, so for me it could be designing and building the kitchen, or planning the garden, starting that novel, or getting back into that fancy shirt I really love to wear, but all the goals have a positive focus. It’s not “I want to lose 10 pounds”. Why do you want to lose the weight? What for? That’s the goal. Make it a positive.
Every time I finish something on the list I go back to planner and give it a whopping great big tick. It’s so important to actually physically tick it off as it empowers you psychologically to carry on with the next task. The list, in effect, stops everything feeling like it’s a mountain you can’t climb. It makes each stage of your journey manageable.
This system works extremely well when starting a house renovation, so if that’s you this year, then this truly is essential. But, the system works even if your goals are more personal or life oriented, so stay with me. For illustration purposes, I’m going to use house and garden renovations, but your goals could be anything.
Break it down!
The next stage is to spend some time thinking about each task on your list and how you are actually going to achieve your goals. Break each point down into smaller lists. I create three categories for each task regardless of what it is: Planning, During and Snagging. You’re probably thinking: “omg this man is completely insane! He’s some kind of crazy OCD fruit loop!” But, I promise this works!
If all you have is your over-arching list, then everything else that actually makes it happen is just in your head and you will definitely make mistakes and, if it’s building work, then they could be costly. If you are dealing with contractors, like I often am, then it’s imperative that you write things down. They will want to know what you’ve decided on for the worktop, for example, where you want the sockets, or the colour of the window frames. They will need to know way in advance too, which is why the Planning list is the most important one.
The Planning List
Do your homework and take your merry time with this stage. Get things right while it’s quiet. For the kitchen renovation (you can catch my six-part Kitchen Design Course here) we did in our last house, I already knew where I was sourcing every single aspect of the design before we started. That’s not to sound clever and smug. It’s the only way I can work. It helps me out so much as otherwise I would be a stressed out wreck. It’s good to be honest with yourself. This is the list of where you are sourcing everything you need and want for the renovation and where you want them to be in your home. Again, this doesn’t have to be about interior or gardening design, you can use it for whatever your goal is.
Plus, lists don’t have to be in written form. They can be a drawing, or a design, or even a Pinterest mood board. For each garden that I design I first put together a board on Pinterest of things I love. I then draw out a basic design. It’s a way of putting my ideas down on paper as a visual aid. The design allows me to use it as a reference for when I actually start digging.
The Planning List reminds me of everything I need to think about in advance. It gives me a chance to explore and make good decisions. It means that by the time I get to the During List I am relatively calm. I can then truly concentrate on building and fitting a kitchen, or creating a flower border and, of course, keep juggling the other ninety billion plates in the air.
The During List
I remember at one point during the Victorian house renovation in late summer of 2022, I was dealing with the kitchen renovation, the orangery build and starting on the loft bedroom all at the same time. Without my lists it would have been a disaster. My During Lists enabled me to see a breakdown of everything that needed to be achieved in order for the task to be a success, from the order in which I needed to bring the trades in, to when the kitchen units should be delivered, or the potted trees needed to arrive. At this point I had three separate During Lists for each task. It kept my mind in some kind of order and stopped me from having hissy fits. Although, don’t think for a second that I didn’t have my moments.
The Snagging List
This is the one I love the most, as you know you’re near the end and there’s probably a few things on the During List that haven’t been done. So, you can add those straight away. Please, please add a few that are about to get done almost immediately. You’ll feel so much better.
This is the list that includes everything left to make the job perfect, whatever that job is, be it creating a kitchen, or losing weight so you feel happy at the beach on holiday. There’s one thing that you absolutely must include in this list and it’s the final point on the list. Celebrate! Even if it’s just a quick cheers with your friends, it is so important to acknowledge that you did it! You made it. Give that trouper a medal!
Throughout all this don’t forget about you
What do YOU really want? Yes, the new kitchen will be lovely. Yes, finally having a second bathroom will be a godsend. But, your daily life is what matters most. What have you personally been aching to do that you haven’t done yet, as there just hasn’t been the time? Do you want to make space to read more? Are you interested in joining that flower arranging class, or doing that sky dive? We all have our bucket list and time never stops, it flies by.
Perhaps you just want to have more time to be with your family and be present, relishing the moment, an unrepeatable miracle. It won’t happen unless you make it happen. It’s not the only way, but for me, writing things down is the best way to solidify your plans and goals. It’s proof of a moment in time when you began your journey, even if you only half make it that year. Make sure you record it.
Did you miss my first live on Substack? You can catch the recoding here.
My first Substack live. A big hello from me and an intro to HOME & HORT.
Thank you all so much for joining me on my first ever live. I was so nervous, but ended up having lots of fun and hugely helped by the support from you guys. I can’t believe I said the words ‘angry ring’! Anyway, I plan to do many more in the future as we start the renovations and garden redesign.
Thank you all so much for being subscribers to HOME & HORT. You literally make my dreams come true. If you’re not yet subscribed, then hello, get on with it!
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Lovely piece as usual, JP.
I must admit, I love spreadsheets and lists too, and yes, I add tasks I’ve already completed as well, as it gives me a greater sense of satisfaction at the end. I did laugh out loud reading that I’m not the only one who does it! 🤣
Sometimes I worry that I’m being too anal about my lists. 😆 For example, if I’m having a dinner party or buffet (“English Tapas” as my Spanish friends call it), as well as writing down a list of what I’m preparing, I place the serving dishes and plates on the dining table in advance, with notes inside indicating what will be served within them. This ensures that not only does everything fit on the table, but also that the plates/bowls match, the colour scheme of the food to be served is balanced and if I need help dishing up, my husband knows where things are to go! Woe betide anyone who puts the roasted vegetables into the pork saltimbocca bowl! Obviously, my guests don’t get to see these notes…. they’d die laughing!
Love your list approach - though the thought of doing it myself triggered the fear!
Alos, I did laugh as I thought initially that was your own blackboard: "JP wants to land on Mars? Really?"