5 Steps To A Better To-Do List

Many of us use a to-do list right?? It’s the one task that keeps us organized and busy all in one. But what I realized was that at the end of the day I would often find myself not making big movements forward, but making teeny tiny steps toward progress. Delaying the big outcomes! I was busy for sure!! But was I being as productive as I could be? Was I focusing on the “right” things?

So I created a system that helps keep me moving forward, in big leaps and feeling productive and accomplished at the end of the day and not just “busy”.

So, the questio
I ask you to ask yourself at the end of the day is:

“Was I productive today or just busy”?

What is your answer to that question?

Creating a to-do list seems simple right? But what happens is that we each have so much to do that those lists have no order, priority or end to them.

Yes, I said it. Your to-do list will never be empty. As soon as you’ve crossed 5 things off, 7 new things are put on it. This is the list of things that are constantly flowing from your mind.

That is what a typical “master list” looks like.

But what is important is learning how to break down those tasks into several lists. Depending on how you think, or your brain functions on a daily basis. These lists may be kept in one binder, one copybook, or broken down into 4 quadrants on 1 piece of paper. The idea here is to find what works best for you and your organization style…

Keep in mind that everyone’s lists look different. It will depend on what stage of life you are currently in, what your current priorities are, what your short term and long term goals are, and whether you own your own business or work for someone else.

Every Sunday as I prepare my family and myself for the week ahead, I review my lists so I can prioritize based on need, deadlines and desires!!

I like to break my tasks down into 5 lists: And to give you a real look into my lists, these are things currently on my lists.

Daily to-do:

These are items that are daily requirements of your time. They are routine demands of your time. These are also things that you may determine later as no longer important or required of you or things that you may learn to delegate over time.

For Example:

• Check email
• Client phone calls
• Appointments
• Exercise
• Family mealtime

To Do Now:

These are things that are a current priority. Have a deadline. Are needed for accomplishment or achievement to move you forward along the path of goal accomplishment.

For Example:

• Call and make pediatrician aptt
• Follow up with 2 potential clients
• Write blogs for next 2 weeks

To Do Later:

These are things that will need to be done, but not at this time. It’s a great place to keep track of necessary items and things that need to be done. These items will ultimately become part of your to-do now list. Keeping these items separate at this point decreases distractions and limits focusing on things that do not require your energy right now.

For Example:

• Book fall vacation
• Write 1700 word submission for Choosing Happiness project (due Sept 19 )
• Reach out to power players to discuss a Fall boot camp to conquer Mommy Mayhem

To Delegate

These are things that take up too much of my productive time. These are things that I know I can do myself, but choose to get help so that I can focus on the important things I have listed on “my” To-do lists. By delegating out tasks both in my personal life and business, I create more time to focus on those things that bring me sheer joy. Keep in mind that delegation isn’t just hiring people to do stuff for you. By doing so strategically, you’ll create the time and money to focus on money generating and happiness generating tasks!

For Example:

• Have assistant buy items for deck party
• Have VA put long term tasks into Asana
• Have kids put stamps on thank you cards
• Ask kids to be responsible for emptying dishwasher this week

To Dream List: (also known as an idea list)

These are those little thought bubbles that pop up in your head on a daily basis, especially for creative people!! It happens like this. You’re sitting focusing on a blog post when “boom” a thought pops up into your mind that says “I should do a course on helping people with time management and prioritization” “I’m sure people could benefit from that”. But in THAT very moment. That thought bubble is a distraction… immediately pull that thought from your head and keep it on an idea list. As you become more focused and can prioritize your thoughts and actions more time will be creating in your life to consider and action on these thought bubbles.

For Example:

• Write a book (see Eve
ote for title)
• Write a series of books (see Eve
ote for list)
• Do a series of webinars for small business owners
• Create a time management program for entrepreneurs

The theme here is one based on successful organizing practices. By lumping like things with like things and always knowing where to find said things, we can become more consciously productive with our time and desires.