We all have a daily to-do list. Some of us have it meticulously written down where we can reference it the night before, the morning of, and throughout the day, while others prefer to maintain a mental list of that day’s tasks. The mental list is certainly less effective, but even a written list can present problems if it’s not organized properly. This week, I wanted to share some ideas to optimize your daily to-do lists to operate at maximum efficiency:
Length
Most of us know how it feels to start the day with a 20-item to-do list. It can be stressful and overwhelming, to say the least; and that stress is only compounded when, at the end of the day, we realize we haven’t even made a dent in it. Starting the day with a manageable to-do list is the key to making it work for you. When you include ten things you know you realistically won’t get to, you’re setting yourself up for frustration and disappointment. Instead, begin each day with a list of only the things you truly intend to do. Having a back-up list of the things that you’d like to get accomplished is a good idea. Then, if time allows, you can jump over to that list and knock one or two of those things out.
Timeframe
Getting a handle on how long it will take to accomplish each task will help you add your to-dos into your schedule. Blocking off the time you need to get through your list means that at the end of most days, you’ve done what you set out to do and avoid the end-of-day frustration I mentioned earlier. Many of the things on your daily list are likely things you have experience with, so that should give you realistic timeframe for getting them done.
Prioritize
Your to-do list can also help direct your workflow. When you prioritize your list and keep your most important tasks at the top, you have a clearer idea of where to direct your energy throughout the day. Even though all of our to-dos feel important, some can function as distractions. We might not really need to do them today, and they can stand in the way of completing more important tasks. When you prioritize your to-do list, you help yourself stay on track. Priorities can change throughout the day, but this way, you stay in control of where your focus is going.
Getting a handle on your daily to-do list can make for higher-efficiency days where you get more accomplished in less time.
Here's a piece I wrote a while back on how successful entrepreneurs manage their time, which I think is a good compliment to these ideas: https://www.md-loanofficer.com/post/how-successful-entrepreneurs-manage-their-time
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