Turning Ideas Into Actions: The Someday/Maybe List
To-do lists.
To-don’t lists.
I’ve got a new one for you. How about your Someday/Maybe list?
I learned about this concept in David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.
A Someday/Maybe list is a placeholder for projects or interests or goals that have your attention, but that you aren’t currently acting on. This could be due to bad timing, lack of commitment, or other higher priorities taking your focus. But, someday, maybe you’d like to reconsider.
Enter the Someday/Maybe list!
What Goes on My Someday/Maybe List?
All of the great ideas, bucket list items or random musing that you just aren’t quite ready to commit to yet, get tracked on the Someday/Maybe list.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Learning a new skill
Moving to a new city
Switching careers
Making an investment
Getting a pet
Losing weight
Taking a big trip
Attending an event
Making a big purchase
Writing a novel
Do any of these sound familiar? Or are you feeling inspired?
Great! Start that Someday/Maybe list while it’s fresh in your mind.
Why Create a Someday/Maybe List?
The Someday/Maybe list can serve a few purposes:
Reduce the mental energy given to these ideas
You’ve consciously decided that “no”, these ideas aren’t worth acting on right now.
So, let’s not waste any mental capacity ruminating and being stuck in confusion over whether you should do the thing or not do the thing.
Get it out of your brain and safely stored on the Someday/Maybe list.
Adding the idea to the Someday/Maybe list can also reduce the mental energy of judging or breaking down the ideas to be more “realistic”. Just add them to the list for when you’re ready to explore more! Judgment-free zone.
Inspire your future goal-setting
You, hopefully, have some regular cadence where you’re considering and planning for your next big goal.
For example, at the beginning of each year, I decide on my big goals for the year that I’m going to start taking action on and make my plan. I also reflect on my 5-year goals and 10-year goals to make sure I’m moving in the right direction.
Let the Someday/Maybe list serve as your inspiration for this type of goal planning.
This way, you don’t have to start from scratch trying to remember what life-changing epiphany you swore you had a few months ago. It’s tracked! Pick it back up and decide if you’re ready to pursue it.
Declutter your master to-do list
You want to keep your master to-do list full of projects that you’re actually planning to work on.
Often, items like “learn to sew” or “look into Europe vacation” sneak their way onto that to-do list with fully good intentions to make it happen.
But, if you find yourself glazing over the same to-dos each week, maybe it’s time to move them to the Someday/Maybe list.
Once again, you don’t want to waste mental energy with this extra clutter. You’re saying “no” for now. Not forever. But you don’t need to rehash that decision every single week.
How Do I Manage My Someday/Maybe List?
Once you’ve decided to create a Someday/Maybe list, you’ll need to manage it:
Evaluate regularly and keep it relevant
Don’t let the list get outdated and stagnant. Or worse, become an unruly mess with long-ago whims like “Create a MySpace” page or “Learn the {insert no longer relevant TikTok dance craze}”.
Decide on a cadence you’ll commit to for reviewing your Someday/Maybe list.
This could be monthly, quarterly, or yearly, depending on how often you like to plan your goals.
Then, remove anything that no longer aligns with where you want to go. The Someday/Maybe list isn’t a junk drawer of ideas! Keep it relevant.
Take action when inspiration strikes
During these regular reviews, if something from the list catches your attention and sparks a little passion, it may be time to officially move an item to the to-do list!
Remove the idea from the Someday/Maybe list, break it down into the next best actions, and add it to your to-do list.
Schedule it out. And start making it happen!
Keep separate lists for each area of life
Your Someday/Maybe list for your career or business will likely look drastically different than your Someday/Maybe list for your personal life.
Keep these lists separate.
This can make it easier to find a relevant cadence for regular reviews and put you in the right mindset to decide what you’re ready to take action on.
It can be hard to face the fact that we can’t do everything we want to do RIGHT NOW.
The Someday/Maybe list can help keep the dream alive while you choose where to focus and prioritize your time.
Let your Someday/Maybe list serve as inspiration. These are all things you can absolutely achieve if you set your mind to it. You just have other priorities you’re making time for right now. And that’s okay.
Don’t shrink your goals to fit your calendar.
Instead, store them in your Someday/Maybe list.
Someday is right around the corner!
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like there are always important tasks left undone, hanging over your head? It's time to take control of your productivity and prove to yourself you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Check out the 7 Days: Consider it Done! guide to transform the way you approach your to-do list.
Say goodbye to procrastination and unfulfilled goals and hello to a sense of control and reignited passion for life. Consider it done!
