Top 5 tips to make a To Do list

Write down everything as you remember it 

It’s better to write something down and mark it as complete later than to forget what you wanted to do in the first place. Sometimes we remember the things we need to do when we’re not at our computer or in front of our list, but there are other tools we can use to help us when this happens. You can use post-it notes around the house, the notes app on your phone, a to-do list app, or a voice memo. Nobody is perfect at remembering everything, and that’s okay! Making a habit of using to-do lists will help you stay on top of all your priorities and will help free up mental space to make life easier for your future self.  

Don’t clog up your list 

Your to-do list is not the place to store thoughts or goals. Those details are important to capture, but if you keep everything in one list, your important work might get lost or buried. Instead, aim to capture those items in a project management tool or a separate notebook. That way you still have access to all of your loose thoughts and important goals, without cluttering your to-do list. 

For example, “Be healthy” might be a great goal that you are trying to achieve, but it doesn’t belong on your to-do list. You can, however, add an actionable item to your to-do list that addresses your goal, such as “Go for a run”. 

Verbs first, details later 

Verbs are great for keeping your to-do list focused on progress. They are “doing” words, which is why it helps to start off your to-do tasks with a verb. While this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, verbs will help you know exactly what you need to do for each to-do list task. 

For example, the item “doctor’s appointment” doesn’t tell you much. If you add the verb “schedule,”, then suddenly, you have a clear action to carry out (and tick off!) It can also be helpful for knowing at-a-glance what you need to do and how long it will take you to complete. 

Prioritise your tasks 

To ensure you get the right work done on time, it’s important to know which of your to-do list items are most important. Whether you put the most important to-dos at the top of a handwritten list or use custom tags to flag priority in an app, make sure you have an idea of what you need to complete first.  

That isn’t to say you must do your most important work first. Sometimes, starting the day off with an easy task is the best way to get the ball rolling and boost your mood and motivation. Tick off a small win like “make the bed” or “follow up an email”. Even if you don’t do your high priority work first, make sure you know what you need to do before the day is out. It can be helpful to map out how long each task will take you and block out time in your day for tackling the tasks, especially if some tasks might take more than one day.  

Nip the stragglers in the bud 

We all have those tasks that fall to the bottom of our to-do list and quickly become overdue. A key to getting them done and out of the way is asking yourself, “why haven’t I done this task yet?” This simple question can help you address your prioritisation techniques or help identify that you need help with the task or may even need to delegate it to someone else. Knowing why you’re delaying can help you be more efficient and nip those stragglers in the bud.