Are you overwhelmed by your to-do list? Do you feel stuck or unfocused?
To-do lists are extremely effective in helping you achieve your goals by getting things done.
But — only if you take the time to optimize your to-do list.
You need to know how to maximize your time and your to-do list so you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed or unsatisfied at the end of each day.
Here are five ways to master your to-do list to help you spend less time on the mundane and more on the inspiring, comforting and rewarding things in your business.
1 – WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN
Take a piece of paper and make a list of all you want to accomplish – everything that you feel is incomplete or needs action from you to get completed. It isn’t supposed to be pretty or organized. The key is to write down every little thing that’s on your mind – no matter if it is urgent or not, big or small. This will help empty your mind of these stressful reminders and start to bring clarity and improve your concentration.
2 – PRIORITIZE
Just listing your tasks on a piece of paper isn’t going to cut it. There are only 24 hours in a day and you won’t be able to complete all of them. You are going to need to prioritize, my friend. Start by separating or ranking your tasks by importance and urgency.
3 – CREATE MANAGEABLE STEPS
While you may have some bigger goals or projects on your list, it’s a good idea to break them down into smaller, achievable steps. If your to-do list contains tasks that are too general or unrealistic, this will simply overwhelm or discourage you from making progress. Add these smaller steps to your to-do list or you can create a separate list for these bigger goals or projects. The goal is to create a list that helps you consistently complete your tasks.
4 – SCHEDULE YOUR TASKS
A sure-fire way to make sure you are accomplishing the items on your to-do list is to add start and end dates, or a specific timeframe. Scheduling your tasks ensures they will be completed and each of them will be given the attention they need and at the right time. These activities deserve your committed time just as you do for dentist appointments or client meetings.
5 – EVALUATE YOUR ENERGY LEVEL
As you work through the items on your to-do list, don’t forget to pay attention to your energy level. Of course, it would be the perfect scenario to get everything done each day. However, sometimes you may not have the physical or mental energy to complete what is next. Acknowledge that. Do what you can. Completing even a small task or even taking a break between tasks can provide you with the energy that will propel you on to the next task you need to tackle.