Unravel the enigma of to-do lists, a tool that simultaneously fuels and frustrates productivity. Explore the paradoxical nature of these lists, their potential to both streamline tasks and overwhelm, and the strategies to harness their power effectively.

To-Do lists can be the best productivity tool when used correctly

They track what you have to or want to do, and follow it, crossing off one task at a time.

  • There are 3 ways to use to-do lists:
  • Master List (Brain Dump)
  • Weekly List
  • Daily List

Daily List

The list which decides how productive or sloth-y you will be today

  • Big Tasks: These will be the tasks that can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours
  • Choose a maximum of 2 such tasks, and they should be your main focus for the day. Whatever happens that day, these shall not be missed.
  • Medium Tasks (Tasks which will take around 15, 30 to 45 minutes)
  • A maximum of 3 Medium tasks
  • Tiny Tasks which can be finished in 5 to 10 minutes

Key Notes

Begin with 1-3 tasks on a sheet of paper and get going

  • Don’t start with too many tasks
  • Break large projects down into small tasks – write the starting time, the time needed, and the context of the task to avoid procrastination
  • Use a verb at the starting of each task
  • Complete the important and urgent tasks first, then the non-urgent ones
  • Give yourself less time than you think you need
  • Keep a look on your goals regularly
  • Take breaks in between large tasks

Master List

Your go-to list

  • Give a deadline, a purpose, and be as specific as possible
  • Refine your master list every weekend to see what you can take on this week
  • When doing a large project, always break it down into multiple small chunks that can be done in a short span of time

Templates and Apps

Use this Notion Template or Google Calendar to create a template on paper and follow it.

Weekly List

This is an optional list that can be made when you want to be Ultra-Productive

  • You decide what to do based on your schedule and availability
  • Synchronize Calendar and To-do list to make the most out of both to-dos

Source