How to Write a To-do List and Stick to It

How to Write a To-do List and Stick to it

By Madison LaVoy

May, 24th 2021

Many people believe that a to-do list is just jotting everything down in one long list and checking things off one by one, but that can be extremely overwhelming and doesn’t increase efficiency at all. Here are some tips to help you write a to-do list that helps you balance life, work and dance!

Think about the bigger picture

Before even starting your to-do list, make sure you have a clear idea about what your goals are. Determining your goals can help you figure out what your daily priorities should be. Structuring your to-do lists around tasks that you are excited about will help you stick to it.

Add some structure to your to-do list

Adding a little bit of structure to your to-do lists can help you in a major way. Creating a to-do list that is more organized with your most important tasks at the top of your list, will help you get your priorities done earlier in the day. This discipline can be life changing. Think about how effective you would become if you completed your most important tasks every day.

Keep your to-do list to a manageable size

You should never have more than 5 things on your to-do list at one time. Keeping your list down to just 5 things will help you make sure that everything on your list is completed which will keep you from feeling defeated. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a larger list of everything you need to get done, but keep that long list away from your daily to-do list.

Be specific with your tasks

It is super important to be extremely clear with every task on your to-do list. If the list item lacks clarity, it can make your task almost impossible to complete. Make sure that the list item is not only clear, but also specific. When you are specific you can create clarity in your mind that helps you focus more.

Calendarize your to-do list

Once you have your five daily tasks, open up your calendar app and schedule out your tasks into your day. Planning out your daily tasks like this helps you block out time to complete your tasks without interruptions.

Creating the perfect to-do list to help you balance out your busy schedule can be tough. These tips may help, but if you are still struggling, there are many apps that can help you. Some of the most recommended include Todoist, Asana, and Things!

All of these tips, tricks and apps are helpful, but to create the most successful to-do list, you must find a to-do list style that fits you. Your to-do lists are for you and you only so creating one that speaks to you is the best tip that I could give you!