Black-and-white text lists can be overwhelming. For one thing, plain text doesn’t naturally call our brains to attention the way colour does.

Colour instantly tells the brain to pay attention and it works with our brain’s innate desire to organise information into neat categories. Feeling stressed? Colour-coding can be an easy way to calm that overactive mind.

Do you normally organise your grocery list by food type or grocery aisle? Try adding colour to your list next time, defining each item by priority. Use one colour for “must-haves,” another for “needs” and another for “wants.” By adding colour to your lists, it can also be a way to more easily prioritise your needs and save money on your next shopping trip!