To-Do Lists: The Paradoxical Productivity Tool

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