Do To-Do Lists Really Work?
To-Do lists are often used as a way to organize and track tasks, but do to-do lists really work? Research has shown that to-do lists don’t work well for many people. They’re often ineffective because they’re too short and incomplete, which makes it difficult to determine what needs to be done. Additionally, to-do lists can become overwhelming if there are too many items on them. It’s also important to remember that not everything on a to-do list requires immediate attention. Some tasks may be better suited for later in the day or week.
Another simple reason to-do lists don’t work is because of our human traits and behaviours. We have a myriad of behaviours and reasons why they don’t work. Let us look at a couple
1. We Don’t Cross off Items
We spend time writing a list once and it sits on our desk, or in our diary and we never cross things off it or even refer to it. We end up doing things that we don’t need to do. If you want to get stuff done, you shouldn’t stop writing lists. You have to start crossing things off the list once it’s complete.
2. It Grows and we get Overwhelmed.
The list gets too big and we get overwhelmed We never finish anything We don’t start things because we don’t know where to start. We don’t finish things because we forget what they were. We never stop the list and look at it in a month or two. We plan, but we never follow through. We keep listing everything instead of focusing on key result areas. We forget what we wrote. We never start anything new. This will often lead to people asking do to-do lists really work?
3. We Do Everything BUT What is on the to-do list
In other words, we do everything BUT what is on our to-do list. If your goal is to accomplish only the things on your to-do list, you’ll end up frustrated and demoralized. Many of us are so busy working on projects that don’t matter that we don’t have time or energy to do things that matter.
4. We Are Too Busy to Spend the Time Writing Them
The last reason why to-do lists don’t work, is because we see ourselves as too busy to even write them. We aren’t willing to spend the time on them Many people just don’t have the courage to put a lot of time and energy into writing down their goals. They would rather write them down but not take the time to actually accomplish them.
If we keep telling ourselves we are too busy, we will never take proactive steps to put structure into our productivity. Even if we have a to-do list, it will not be done, because we are too busy. hence, people often ask do to-do lists really work?
5. We Keep Everything in Our Head
The final reason why to-do lists don’t work is that we keep them in our heads, believing we will remember them. It doesn’t matter how great we believe our memory is, the simple fact is that we are only able to store a limited amount of information for recall. And at every stage, we run the risk of more pressing and urgent information kicking out the information that we had been holding onto. Have you ever been driving and remembered something you have to do at work? You file it away in our head, believing that we will keep it “front of mind”. Then that idiot in the next line crosses into your lane without indicating, causing you to swerve, slam on the brakes and take evasive action. Guess what, that information that you were keeping “front of mind” has just been evicted from your head. That’s the danger of storing your to-do list in your head.
So, Do To-Do Lists Really Work?
How Can You Make your To-Do list Work?
There are many different ways to make a to-do list work for you. One way is to make a list of everything you need to do for the day. This includes both small and large tasks. Another way is to make a list of things you need to do this week. This can help you stay organized and on track. You can also make a list of things you want to do this week.
This can help motivate you to get things done. If you are a list-maker, you have probably just made your to-do list. You can also use this time to plan out the week ahead. What’s great about planning is that it helps you stay organized and on track.
In today’s busy world, it can be hard to stay on track with time management. Between work, family, and social obligations, there never seems to be enough time in the day. However, with a few simple tips, you can learn how to better manage your time and get more done.
One of the best ways to stay on track with time management is to create a daily schedule and stick to it. Include everything that you need to do each day, from work tasks to errands to personal activities. This will help you better plan your time and ensure that you are not over-scheduling yourself.
Another helpful tip is to use a timer when completing tasks. For example, if you have an hour to work on a project, set the timer for 60 minutes and start working. This will help you stay focused and avoid procrastination.
So, Do To-Do Lists Really Work?
Best Practice
Being successful in our roles and responsibilities, your to-do list becomes an extension of your priorities. Create a monthly priorities list that aligns with your key performance goals and desired outcomes. Use that list of priorities and break them down into weekly schedules. Your daily to-do list simply becomes an extension then of your weekly and monthly priorities.
And that works! Check out more Productivity Secrets at The Coach Curl Academy
