To-Do List Success Tips
The humble to-do list is a powerful organization tool. It doesn't matter whether you create and keep a digital list using an app such as Asana or use a pen and paper. What matters is that you create and use your list every day to help you get and stay organized.
Your to-do list can have anything on it like chores, errands, work tasks, personal goals and anything else you need to do. A good list will break down all of your tasks into manageable chunks, which will make it easier for you to get your work done.
The key is that you are able to complete the items on your list without feeling overwhelmed or forgetting what needs to be done.
The following tips will help ensure that your to-do lists are a successful tool in your organizational toolbox.
Keep it Short
The ideal length of a to-do list is 10 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 a feeling of failure.
By keeping your list purposely short you are more likely to cross off every item and end the day feeling successful.
Separate Lists for Home and Work
Don't add your work tasks to your personal to-do list. Maintain separate lists for each.
I suggest having two planners or notebooks, one for your personal tasks and one that you use for work or your business.
If you do want to use one planner or to-do list for both, try color coding the different tasks so you don’t get things confused. Or divide the page into work and home sections so you can have everything together but still keep them separated.
Prioritize
Prioritizing is the key to getting things done. There are a lot of tasks on our plates at work, school and home. We need to figure out what’s most important to do first and then tackle the others.
Once you've listed everything you need to accomplish, then number the items in order of priority. Do the most important items first and you'll feel the biggest 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.
Assign a Time Limit
Wherever possible set a time limit for every item on the list.
Not just how long it will take but when it needs to be done. That way you can identify tasks that need to be completed before lunch or before picking up the kids from school.
Re-visit and Re-work
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 unnecessary.
It will also give you the opportunity to add any additional tasks that crop up during the day.
Keep it with You
How often have you made a to-do list at the beginning of the day and then totally ignored it? Is it because you left the house without it at the beginning of the day?
To make sure that your list is where you need it you could use an app such as Trello or Asana.
Better still you could keep your daily to-do list in your daily or weekly spread in your Master 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.
Your to-do list can be a powerful tool for helping you to live an organized life. Using these tips will help you to ensure that it is used successfully.
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