A never-ending task list that stresses you out and leads to procrastination? That’s a thing of the past. Create a task list that propels you forward and actually makes you more productive.
Making a to-do list is easy—too easy. Before you know it, it’s way too long, and you end up making things harder for yourself. The more tasks you add, the less likely you are to finish the list today. The harder it gets to complete the list, the more frustrated and stressed you feel. That increases the likelihood of procrastination and distraction.
So how do you avoid this downward spiral?
Ask yourself: Which 2 or 3 tasks can I complete today that would leave me feeling satisfied and accomplished?
Create a short list of meaningful, achievable tasks. Give yourself the chance to finish your list. Often, this feels so motivating that you end up doing extra tasks that weren’t even on it.
Avoid mindlessly pushing incomplete tasks to the next day—this only makes tomorrow’s list longer and harder. Instead, make a fresh list and keep it realistic again.
When creating your list, ask: Are these tasks really important? Can any be skipped for now? Could some be marked optional in case you have time left at the end of the day?
An effective to-do list moves you forward. You get to check off tasks, feel better, and finish your workday with a sense of accomplishment. That way, you can start the next day fresh.