Add this to your to-do list today

Lists. They’re for shopping and things to do, year-end top 10 “this” and 100 all-time “that.” Even Santa makes a list and checks it twice.

So what’s the scoop about making lists? Have they gone by the wayside, or do they still have a place in the scheme of things? Based on a survey of 600 individuals conducted by blogger Sasha Cagen, here are some insights that may surprise you.

When asked if people keep their lists, apparently many respondents did for years or even decades. A majority of people also claimed that using good old-fashioned pen and paper made them feel more accountable to the list if it’s in their handwriting, and they liked marking off completed items.

Speaking of which, two-thirds of individuals polled preferred lining through finished tasks, while Xs were rarely used. And a good half of the folks said they put items already done on their list just to get a jump on crossing something off. Sound familiar?

A third of those surveyed used codes such as abbreviations or initials for privacy purposes, which makes sense. When asked whether or not a person was obsessed with lists, a third said yes to being a fanatic about them while two-thirds enjoyed making lists just to see what they could accomplish.

So who are some of the well-known list makers? Many of the entertainment publications produce end-of-the-year lists such as best TV shows, theater and classical music. You can check out Billboard.com for many types of music lists and The Washington Post for every kind of list imaginable.

Book lovers have an assortment of great lists brought to you by publications like Inc. Magazine, the Orange County Register and Amazon. You can check out the only year-end book list decided by readers by googling the 15th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards. This year, readers cast nearly 6 million votes. And I also like how The New York Times conducted a poll to find out “What’s on your best list of 2023?”

I’ve skirted around the kind of list that waxes and wanes in popularity – a list of New Year’s resolutions. Funny thing how January has two national observances related to resolutions – Jan. 12 is “Stick to your New Year’s Resolutions Day” and Jan. 17 is “Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions Day.”

If you’d rather skip making resolutions all together, how about making a list of all you accomplished this year? Regardless of whether or not you make lists, my New Year’s wish list is for your 2024 to be the best year ever.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.