Lists
I used to keep a mental list of everything. To-do lists, to-read lists, playlists, etc. Sometimes these lists got too long, and I offloaded them to a physical copy or a digital copy.
But I oftentimes didn't particularly like making a list. To me, it sounded laborious. As a result, I lost items on that mental list. Sometimes I would stare at the cover of a paperback and think to myself: "Huh, I do not remember buying that book. Maybe I should read it soon." I never read that book.
These days, keeping a list is not just about the items themselves. It is about having the options available. "Do I want to brush my teeth first, or do I want to wash my face first?" "Do I feel like reading a story today, or do I feel like reading a non-fiction today?" I may have still chosen the first thing that came to my mind to do while making the list, but I also may have not. Making a list creates a vacuum of freedom, not just for my brain. It is posing a kind reminder to my future self: Hey, feel free to pick whichever you like.