To-Do Lists Are The Ultimate Unlock to Getting More Done

I start my morning off every night. What do I mean by this? I mean that I write up my to-do-lists every day prior.

Doing so sets my mind into focus hours before my day actually starts. It’s incredibly satisfying to wake up to a list of things you need to get accomplished for the day.

To-do-lists help give your day and your life a little direction.

The most successful people write up to-do-lists. Entrepreneur, Richard Branson built a multi-million-dollar business in eight industries. He achieved so much because to get everything done, he wrote lots of to-do-lists.

Unless you are in the military or prison, you don’t need many to-do-lists because all the thinking is done for you. Your days are basically already set for you. This includes when you start work, when you eat, and when you get to take a break.

The reason I still utilize to-do-lists while I am in the Army is because I want to accomplish personal goals beyond the overall military missions I’m placed on.

Once I finish my Army career, I intend on running my own business and creating content on a daily basis. A to do-list-will help me get to where I want to be.

On A Regular Basis, My To-Do-List Looks Like This:

To Do List for May 3rd, 2021

1. Work
2. Write an Article
3. Read eBook
4. Run or Gym
5. Laundry/Chores/Clean Section
6. Watch inspirational YouTube video
7. Go out with friends
8. Call family

Although my list does not go into grave detail, I know exactly what I need to do to get all my tasks done.

Getting Your Priorities Straight

Being more productive involves lots of time management and planning. I usually prioritize what matters most to me like having a clean area and communicating with my family.

Not every day do I complete all tasks on my checklist, but I don’t let that discourage me.

I know for a fact that I would not accomplish as much as I do without a hand-written to-do-list everyday.

You can try out a to-do-list with just one or two tasks if you easily get sidetracked. Once you are comfortable with those initial lists, you can add more tasks.

Starting out with too long of a list may be overwhelming for people and turn them off from to-do-lists. Know your limits and boundaries.

Go at your own pace and adjust fire as you figure out what works in your lifestyle and what doesn’t.

“One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a to-do-list everyday. Keep it visible and use it as a guide to action as you go throughout the day.”

Pros And Cons Of Using To-Do-Lists In Life

Pros of a to-do-list:

1. You can better manage your daily tasks easily and efficiently.
2. Easily break your tasks into subtasks.
3. You can tailor it to your personal workflow.
4. You can inspire your productivity and manage the progress of each task.
5. You can easily share it with others.
6. Using to-do-lists, important tasks won’t be overlooked.

Cons of a to-do-list

1. Interruption and sudden changes in the projects or work can make your to-do-lists vague and unclear.
2. It leads to stress if the list is long.
3. Lists without structure and prioritization can lead to confusing and inefficient use of time.
4. To-do-lists aren’t always referred back to during the day, especially if they’re not in a dedicated space.

Reviewing the pros and cons list, one can see why having a to-do list would benefit an individual.

Time-Management

Along with utilizing a to-do-list, it is the individual’s responsibility to keep track of a valuable asset, time.

I’ve found that by setting timers when I do tasks like writing, I’ll set a 2 hour timer and finish it no later than two hours later than I started. Since I have an entire list to tend to, tracking my time allows me to take care of each of them,

A timer keeps me on my toes and it doesn’t give me anxiety feeling a time crunch facing back at me. Pressure sometimes allows me to write my best pieces.

If I choose to take more time on a particular task like calling my family, then I’ll have to accept the fact that I may not have time for another task on my list.

When your priorities are in place, to-do-lists become your unlock to your maximum potential.

“In order to say yes to your priorities, you have to be willing to say no to something else”

Saying no is not easy at first. But when you realize your happiness is put into jeopardy, you recognize that saying no is sometimes the better option.

We love the people we have in our lives so let’s not just blow off plans with half-assed excuses. The saying “I’m busy” grinds my gears since it can come off rude and disregard the individual hearing it.

Granted the other party may genuinely be busy, instead of saying “I’m busy” we can say something else. We can point to our specific tasks on our to do lists and emphasize the tasks we need to get done.

Once the other party understands, we can suggest to them that another time will work and we can plan it on the spot to prove it.

Don’t allow someone else dictate your time and tell you what is important to you and what is not.

To-Do-Lists Lead To Success And Dreams Coming True.

For me personally, having a successful day relies heavily on how often I follow through with my to-do-list.

Imagine that your to-do-list is a person you value highly. To have a healthy relationship with this individual, you must take good care of them and give it the attention it needs. If you lack accountability and trust, the list will not give you all of the finer things in life.

“Life is too short to wake up with regrets”.

If you want to live a life of no regrets, then you’ll want to do whatever it takes to stick to your to-do-list. It will get you where you want to go!

As for Medium, my dream is to have a part-time job writing articles and helping other people. If I don’t read and write everyday, I leave myself vulnerable to not achieving said goals.

To-do-lists can do wonders for people in the hustle culture, but it isn’t going to work for everyone.

An alternative to using a to-do-list is to write up an anti-to-do-list.

This is a list of tasks that you’ve already completed versus the tasks you need to accomplish. In an anti-to-do-list, you will want to write down everything you’ve done and refer back to it at the end of the day.

Writing everything you’ve done will allow you to learn about your productivity without the commitment of a to-do-list.

If you are not satisfied with your current situation, to-do-lists have the ability to transform your life.

Writing down the same tasks will become well-developed habits in your life and will push you outside of your comfort zone more often.

A to-do-list is a clear illustration of what matters to you. It is also a representation of which tasks mean more to you and the direction you desire in life.