Make Your To-Do List Work For You

Making a to-do list always seem like a good idea until you have an entire full page of overwhelming things you need to do. That lists serves as a reminder of just how much you need to get done and can do more harm then good. So how should you make your to-do list in a way that actually helps you be more productive?

When it comes to making a to-do list, the main goal is to stay organized and on top of things. Maybe the housework has piled up, a deadline is coming, you have errands to run, and when was the last time you took a shower? Gah! What do you do? Your instinct is to sit down and write out everything that you need to get done. You might have your mind set on finishing everything on that list, but let’s be real, that’s not going to happen. In fact, looking at that list may make you feel worse and even more overwhelmed, so let me tell you how you’re going to get it all done.

You’re going to use sticky notes.

• Hear me out. Take that long list, let’s call it “the master list,” and take several items that you want to prioritize first. Write down those items on a sticky note. Nothing more than what will fit on the sticky note.

  • Pro-tip: resist the temptation to write as tiny as possible so that you can fit every item on the sticky note.

  • Now on that sticky note, you will have a smaller, bite-sized, manageable list of tasks that you can realistically get done in the time allotted. The best part is that once it is all completed, you get to toss out the note at the end of the day!

What about the master list? This is the list you get to take a big black Sharpie to! Or you can simply cross things out, or check them off, whatever helps you view that master list as something that is getting smaller.  

A Few Helpful Tips:

• Break down tasks into smaller steps

  • This can be done on your master list or when writing tasks out on your sticky-note

  • Example: Break down “clean the house” into what rooms you’re going to clean and what tasks you have in each room.

• Add time limits

  • By adding either how much time you want to spend on the task or how long the task will take, you can organize your day with confidence. You may also need to use this trick in order to give yourself permission to only use that dedicated time period.