Mastering Your To Do List Like A Pro
Finally get everything done and change your life with this proven best to do list template!
Staying on top of life is hard! Some days even the simplest of tasks can feel overwhelming.
I myself on many occasions have been brought to the brink of tears as I realize I still hadn’t made that phone call and now it’s the last possible day I can and I’m scrambling before the company closes for the weekend.
I had thought about it a zillion times throughout the week but something else would come along and consume my attention and I’d completely forget about it until it was too late at night, etc..
This feeling is the story of my life….. or was…….. before I decided to sit down and focus on creating a functional to do list that would simplify my productivity.
And it turns out there is a way to combat these feelings while getting EVEN MORE items accomplished…….
…….. that’s right, less stress and more stuff checked off the old To Do list. Sounds like a fairy tale, right?!
This post is going to teach you step by step how to take the control back and turn the idea of a To Do list into a simple reality.
If you are needing a bit of inspiration : check out this post
So What Is This Magic To Do List?
It’s ultimately a master list of literally everything you can think of in your life that needs to get done. Organized and neatly laid out for you. It keeps a singular focus to help you knock off those dreaded tasks one by one!
It’s a productivity weapon that will help you destroy all your “must dos” or “should dos” while giving your brain some peace and space!
Benefits of a To Do List:
— A.K.A why you should take the time to create your own To Do list and how it’s going to dramatically change your life.
- IT REDUCES TIME WASTING
– You no longer will have to run your entire list through your head in order to find which task should be handled next. It’s all laid out and the time it would take to choose which task is a priority has already been done for you. - YOU NO LONGER RUN THE RISK OF FORGETTING SOMETHING
– It’s already written down for you to see! - IT ELIMINATES BRAIN CLUTTER AND FREES UP MENTAL ENERGY
– There is nothing more mentally exhausting than having the same thoughts run through your mind – day in and day out – with no end in site of them going away. You know when you lay awake at night thinking of all the things you need to take care of – yeah that’s brain clutter and it’s going to disappear! - LONG TERMS GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED FASTER
– If you think about it, all of the tasks you want to accomplish point toward an end goal. All the tasks may not lead to the same goal but knocking items off your list ultimately does get you closer to some sort of a finish line.
Supplies:
Ok, Ok…. I know what you are thinking…. Really Christy? Do I actually need “fancy supplies” in order to make a To Do list? Can’t I just use a plain ‘ole pen and piece of paper?
My answer to this is while technically yes of course you can just use a pen and loose sheet of paper; I do highly highly HIGHLY suggest having a notebook dedicated solely to your To Do list.
—– My personal preference is blank lined pages. Not a calendar style notebook.
My favorite notebook to use is a hardcover with a ribbon like this. The only downfall to this is there is nowhere to keep a pen attached. I like the ribbon because it easily marks my current page and it lays flat which makes it easy to write.
Another popular option is a wire bound notebook like this. These easily hold a pen within the coils which is handy because you’ll never have to scavenge for one!
To Do List Template
THE STEPS
STEP ONE: Keep everything written in the same notebook. Having a “home” which houses all of the tasks for your To Do list is the first step in keeping on track. Make sure to keep your notebook out in the open. It’s important to keep it portable so whenever something pops into your head, you can write it down right away.
STEP TWO: BRAIN DUMP – Sounds gross, right?! BUT this is the best part! This is the step where you write down EVERYTHING you can think of.
Let go of all the tasks you have been hoarding in your mind.
The tasks that don’t allow you to sleep at night.
The tasks which have been lingering over you for months.
The tasks which consume you to the point of rendering you inactive.
Write it ALL down!
In the order you think of them – No need to try and organize – just let them flow out of your memory. I can guarantee tasks will come out of the woodwork that you didn’t even know where lingering in your mind.
STEP THREE: Break down your brain dump into categories like: House, Work, Money, Kids etc.
I personally like to do this by going through my list and color coding them with different colored highlighters.
STEP FOUR: Re-write your lists. This time write the lists organized out by task category.
I wouldn’t use a new page for each category but I absolutely would leave several lines in between them for the new tasks that will pop into your head within the week.
- I am going to preface STEP FIVE by saying To Do lists should be written DAILY.
- I personally write my daily To Do list the night before my chosen tasks need to be accomplished. I feel this allows me to be prepared for the day ahead. Also, I sleep much sounder knowing I have a plan of action.
- If you find you like to write your To Do list in the morning that works just as well!
Yahoo you’ve made it through the brain dump!
I bet you feel better and your brain is thanking you!
It’s now time to write out your first To Do list. As you can see in the image above, this is the best layout I’ve found to help keep me moving along through my tasks and stops me from being at a standstill.
STEP FIVE: Section 1 | Main Focus – Choose the most important item from any of your lists but decide this main focus by choosing a task which is achievable in one day. This task is an item that you have been putting off but you know it needs to get done and is working towards a long term goal.
– If you were to only get this one item done today you would feel happy with yourself!
STEP SIX: Section A – 100% Have To Get Done – These tasks are items which absolutely have to get done by the end of the day. Try to keep these tasks to a minimum. An example would be: Paying the mortgage or publishing this blog post.
STEP SEVEN: Section B – Carry Items – These tasks are items in which you would like to get done but are not required to be accomplished by a specific time. They can be carried over from day to day. An example would be: Painting the accent wall in your living room.
– If a task on your carry list does become an item which requires it to be accomplished by a specific day, move it up to Section A.
– Try to complete carry goals within one week of listing them on your To Do List. The longer an item sits in this spot, the easier our mind disregards the importance of completing it at all and therefore making it harder to find motivation to accomplish.
THAT’S IT – YOU’VE COMPLETED YOUR DAILY TO DO LIST!!!
Sharing my tips on how to keep your list practical and achievable:
Don’t load your list with large and hard to achievable assignments. Break large tasks into smaller goals.
Example – BAD: Organize closets in house BETTER: Organize linen closet in hallway
– This would be a great carry goal or could even be a main focus item.
INCLUDED ACTION STEP!! Be sure your items are written with clarity. So when you look at the next item on your list you have a clear understanding of what you are trying to achieve and the first physical step needed in order to get started.
Example –
BAD To Do List:
1. Write blog post
2. Clean house
3. Plan vacation
BETTER To Do List:
1. Write To Do list blog post in WordPress
2. Pick up items off all carpeted areas and vacuum
3. Pick location of vacation and determine time frame of departure/arrival
BEST To Do List:
1. Write To Do list blog post in WordPress
* Brainstorm main bullet points for post and create outline
2. Pick up items off all carpeted areas and vacuum
* Keep kids occupied. Grab baby carrier. Get laundry baskets for organizing items by room.
3. Pick location of vacation and determine time frame of departure/arrival
* Research top places for family vacations and get schedules from all family members
Using this method for creating To Do Lists has changed my life… Literally! Let this to do list template change your life too!
It’s helped keep me from a frazzled anxious state where I quite honestly felt trapped in 60% of the time.
Having multiple items checked off my To Do list is no longer the gauge of whether or not I feel accomplished!