I am one of those- 1000 things running through my head, never ending list of things to pick up, things to organize, things to learn about, people to call, crafts to make, adventures to go on, and languages to learn—type people.
Essentially, I have the best intentions to rule the day and INSTEAD it goes one of two ways: I end up writing, rewriting, and then reorganizing my to do list OR I try to just roll with it and I end up forgetting items, not organizing my time well, or altogether giving up because it LOOKS like a lot of work. My work desk is always covered with at least a hundred papers with scribbles, doodles, and giant “DON’T FORGET”s scratched across the front. Each list only barely differs from the others… Easily combinable. You would think.
I’m here to tell you how I learned how to make the perfect to do list. After years of practice (failure?), and notebooks worth of scribbles- I’ve finally mastered the craft.
Follow these 5 Simple steps and own the day!
- Be realistic.Whenever I am sitting down to write a list I ask myself- is this a list of things I want to do today? This week? This Year? In my lifetime? Whatever you decide will determine how you approach organizing your efforts. Combining ‘Things to do today’ , with ‘Things to do this year’ is an easy way to get discouraged and distracted.
- Smallest to BiggestWhen you’ve got a lot on your plate- momentum is E V E R Y T H I N G. Place the small, easy, and short time commitment items at the top. Completing several small tasks will energize you and give you the confidence to tackle the big things. PLUS if you end up getting stuck on a bigger project you’ll still feel accomplished knowing you were able to cross off a few items before you hit a wall.
- Strategic “Layering”I am a freak about making sure that I am using my time efficiently. And I can honestly say I have spent more time overthinking how to get everything done than actually working on getting stuff done. Layering is the BEST tip to organize your time efficiently to get stuff more stuff done in less time. Layering means organizing the list so that while one thing is finishing up, you can be starting in on the next item without losing time. Here’s an example: When I have 100 loads of laundry to do- I put that at the top of my to do list. I know I can throw a load in, work on the next item, and come back to add more, rotate, and fold. Then when the laundry is done and I have a mountain of clothes to fold, I know I can use that time to call the insurance company, be transferred and placed on hold, all while STILL being productive. I like to look at my list and anticipate places that I can layer tasks and then number my list 1-10 (or more if you have it) so I can quickly and efficiently get things done.
- ChunkingThis one might be obvious, but it is SO important. Group “like” tasks together so that you don’t waste time transitioning from thing to thing. If you need to clean the bathrooms AND vacuum AND dust AND clean the kitchen—don’t spread them out throughout the day. Do all the cleaning together so you don’t waste time starting and stopping. By doing like items all at once your brain can focus on one type of task and then be free to move on to what’s next. When you start and stop one type of project throughout the day there is a much bigger chance for you to get burnt out. So get your head in the game, bust it out and then MOVE ON.
- Set a FEW Non Negotiable items.The whole reason to make a to- do list is so that at the end of the day you feel accomplished. The only way to feel good about your efforts is to make sure that you are setting yourself up for success. Pick a FEW items that MUST get done today. Star, highlight, or circle them—these are the “non negotiables”. If you get more than the non negotiable items done- GREAT. You’ll feel badass and super successful. If life happens and you aren’t as productive as you’d hoped- it’s ok. You’ll feel good knowing that despite a crazy day- you got the important stuff done.
So those are my 5 tips to building the perfect To-Do list. Try one of them or all of them, find what strategies work best for you and then get started! After all, that list won’t make itself… and it DEFINITELY won’t finish itself.
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