The humble to-do list is a powerful success tool. It doesn’t matter whether you create and keep a digital list using an app or use a pen and paper. What is important is that you create and use your lists every day to help you get and stay organized. The following tips will ensure that your to-do lists are an effective tool in your organizational toolbox.
The ideal length of a to-do list is ten items or less. You’ve probably created lists in the past that have seemed endless. Instead of helping you feel organized and successful, you probably ended the day with most of the items still unchecked and felt like a failure.
By keeping your list purposely short, you are more likely to cross off every item and end the day feeling successful.
Don’t add your work tasks to your personal to-do list. Maintain separate lists.
Once you’ve listed everything you need to accomplish, number the items in order of priority. Do the most important items first, and you’ll feel the greatest sense of achievement.
If there are any items on your list that aren’t important then mark them as such. That way you won’t need to feel guilty if you don’t cross them off.
Wherever possible, set a time limit for every item on the list. Not just how long it will take but when it is due. That way you can identify tasks that need to be completed before lunch or before picking up the kids from school.
A to-do list should be a working document. Once written it should be revisited throughout the day. You can check off those items you’ve completed and reprioritize or schedule those that remain.
You can also cross items off that are no longer important or necessary. It will also give you the opportunity to add any additional tasks that crop up during the day.
How often have you made a to-do list at the beginning of the day and then totally ignored it? It is probably because you left the house without it at the start of the day!
To make sure that your list is where you need it, you could use your favorite app. Better still you could keep your daily to-do list in your daily or weekly spread in your planner or bullet journal. That way, it will be with you wherever you go, and you’ll get the satisfaction of marking off the items as you complete them. You’ll also have a visual record of your achievement.
