Typical adult in the UK creates 156 to-do lists annually as a coping mechanism

The typical adult in the UK creates 156 to-do lists annually as a coping mechanism, with over a third confessing they’d be all over the place without them.

A survey of 2,000 Brits discovered that 21% would find it challenging to accomplish anything without a list detailing shopping items, work assignments or DIY tasks that need completion. It showed that 68% of people rely on lists for a sense of organisation, while 51% use them to feel in control.

Three quarters confessed they were more likely to remember to do something if it’s written down. For 41% of respondents, grabbing a pen or their phone is crucial to achieving their objectives as it signifies a commitment to action.

Shahbaz Khan from STABILO, the company behind the research, commented: “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.”

The research marks STABILO’s ‘Start Beginning’ campaign encouraging people to start something new.

Shahbaz further added: “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.

“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 discovered that women are nearly twice as likely as men to regularly write lists, with 43% compared to 24%. On average, those surveyed make three lists a week, which amounts to 9,766 over an adult lifetime.

Despite 66% believing the practice of writing things down is fading away, 53% actually prefer handwritten lists. Over two thirds even claimed they are more likely to remember tasks if they’re written by hand.

The research found that the average adult currently has two unfinished lists, with food shopping (75%), general life admin (52%) and packing checklists (45%) being the most common.

Other popular list items include work tasks (36%), appointments to schedule (36%) and gifts to purchase (36%).

Data from OnePoll revealed that while 47% of workers update their to-do list throughout the week, a well-organised 24% create a new one each day, with mornings being the most popular time to do so.

Shahbaz Khan, from STABILO, commented: “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”.