Brits write 156 lists a yr to maintain on prime of life – and one in 5 can be misplaced with out them
A new survey shows that the average adult writes 156 to-do lists in a year – with more than a third claiming they would be lost without them.
The typical adult pens a 156 to-do lists annually, with over a third confessing they’d be lost without them. A survey involving 2,000 adults discovered that 21% find it challenging to accomplish anything without a written list, whether it’s for shopping, work tasks or DIY jobs.
The poll revealed that 68% of people resort to list-making to foster a sense of organisation, while 51% do so to feel in control. Three quarters admitted they’re more likely to remember to do something if it’s jotted down and grabbing a pen or their phone is the first step towards putting their goals into action.
Shahbaz Khan from STABILO, the company behind the research, said: “Whether it’s a colourful array of sticky notes stuck to cupboards and worktops, or a bright highlighter to make your list actions stick out, it seems writing things down has a positive effect.”
This research forms part of STABILO’s ‘Start Beginning’ campaign encouraging people to start something new. Shahbaz further commented: “Writing a list is a pivotal moment in taking action to start something new, whether that’s starting a dream project or the simple act of writing down a goal.”
He added: “We all know how busy it can feel when juggling work, family, finances alongside the day-to-day of shopping, meal prep and schedules.
“It can be motivating to see a list of things in front of you to tick off and it’s no wonder people are more likely to work through them than if they were simply in their heads.”
The study revealed that women are nearly twice as likely as men to regularly jot down lists 43% compared to 24%. But overall, those surveyed craft three lists a week, which adds up to a whopping 9,766 over an adult’s lifetime.
Despite 66% of people thinking the practice of penning things down is dying out, more than half actually favour handwritten lists. Over two thirds even confessed they’re more likely to remember tasks if they’re written by hand.
As for the type of lists being penned, the research found the average adult has two unfinished lists in progress, with food shopping, general life admin and packing checklists, among the top ones. Others frequently scribble down their workday tasks, appointments they need to schedule and presents they need to purchase.
The OnePoll data showed that while nearly half (47%) of workers update their to-do list throughout the week, a well-organised 24% write a fresh one each day – with mornings being the most popular time to do so.
Shahbaz Khan added: “There must be something in the fact it’s satisfying to tick things off when handwritten, rather than deleting them from a phone.
“It’s great to see people still rely on putting pen to paper to feel focused, especially in the digital age and we’re delighted to be a facilitator of this”.
TOP 10 TYPES OF LISTS ADULTS COMMONLY WRITE:
- Food shopping lists
- General life admin tasks
- Things to pack for a holiday/ trip
- Working day tasks
- Appointments to make
- Birthday gift list
- Gift ideas
- DIY jobs to do
- Travel to-do list
- Cleaning tasks to do
