How to Create a More Realistic To-Do List
It used to leave me a nervous wreck to think about having things left on my to-do list at the end of the day.
But I set myself up for failure.
I’d set these vague goals — I need to “finish that project” today.
Things have changed.
Now, I have a system. One that combats both the volume of activities on my list and the anxiety that the list creates.
Here it is:
#1 Write down every specific thing that needs to be done
Instead of writing the goal - "write an article" - write down all the steps.
For example:
write outline
do keyword research and pick one
research topic
write intro
write body
finish the first draft
edit draft
publish
When you do this for each activity, it's a lot easier to see exactly what needs to be done.
These steps become the to-do list.
#2 Prioritize the list
Once you break it all down, you need to prioritize.
Determine how much time you have in a day and then pick a realistic number of activities to fill it.
Not all of them. The most important ones for today.
#3 Accept that you are not going to get to everything on your list today
It can be very uncomfortable to give yourself permission not to do everything.
But try it once. See how much you get done.
Because in reality, it‘s better to do 5 things than to expect to do 15 and end up doing 2.
#4 Schedule Exactly When You Will Do It All
Schedule time to do your tasks.
Make sure you schedule in breaks.
You are going to take them anyway.
You need them.
We all do.
#5 Execute
You have developed your plan.
You have managed your mindset.
Now you know exactly what to do and what is realistic to achieve today.