There are many ways to organize your life. You could have a calendar to map out every hour of the day, or you could even have a personal life coach that helps you keep track of what needs to be done. But there is something of even more value that can help you keep your life together. Something so simple, I can’t believe I made it through so many years of my life without utilizing it. And that, is the to do list.
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What is a To Do List?
Make a to do list. Turn that to do list into a done list. Finish that list. What exactly is a to do list? Well, this type of list is a very simple, affordable, and potentially fashionable way to organize your life and be as productive as possible with your time.
A to do list is a white board, piece of paper, or note on your phone that you create a list of tasks on. How many tasks is up to you. If you want the things done at a certain time, that’s up to you as well. Really, the to do list is an amazing tool that allows you to completely see life’s big picture so that you can be at peak productivity. And the more customized it is, the better! You don’t have to follow any rules, just do what comes natural and add your own personal flair.
How do You Make One?
Making to do lists is a lot more fun than you would think. The process is relaxing and can even help with anxieties you have over what’s going on in your life. So, without further ado, here’s how to make one.
First, determine if you want to create a to do list with time slots. I personally like to have a bit of leniency when it comes to getting things done, but if you thrive when your day is plotted out hour to hour, go for it! You can also experiment by taking a few days and seeing which kind of list works for you .
Next, list your time slots, or as I do, simply a list of 1, 2, 3, and so forth. Leaving space to write next to or below the numbers.
Finally, start writing your tasks for that day in their correct slots. Making sure to be honest with yourself about what you can get done in a day. When using the plain numbered list, you could list your tasks from most important to least important, or you could just simply write them down as they pop into mind.
Don’t forget to add your own personal touches to your to do list! Such as stickers, unique fonts or hand writing, and doodles.
How do You Use a To Do List?
Using a to do list is the interesting part. This kind of motivational tool only works if you’re willing to put the time and effort into getting your work done. However, if you are willing to to keep a close eye on your to do list, and give honest effort to the tasks listed, this part will be a breeze!
Now, you’ll want to have this list easily accessible. If its a note on your phone, don’t hide it, have the note out in an area of your phone you go to often. If its paper, set it on a table, in the middle of you room, or just somewhere you can’t miss it. As I mentioned before, this can also be a fashionable thing because you can use white boards, chalk boards or even your entire wall to showcase the tasks you need to get done. Now don’t forget to look at it, or even glance at it as you go through the day. Creating this habit will allow you to become more focused on your goals, and help you to truly be productive with your time.
How I’m Using my To Do Lists
I have experimented with so many different to do lists, and really, each one of them has their own perfect use. My favorites to use, are the white board, and a simple paper list. I prefer these two, because I have so many notes on my phone, my to do lists seem to get lost quite often.
Right now, I am using an amazing little white board I got from Walmart. That has a clear layout, with just enough space to write down everything I want to get done for the entire week! I’ve set it out on a table where I can see it every morning, and once a week, I sit down to take in all that I got done, and rewrite the list for the next week. Having this routine really helps me sleep at night, because I know the things floating around in my head that seemed like monster tasks, are now actually pretty manageable. And I won’t kill myself trying to get them done.
That’s it!
I honestly love the simplicity of the to do list. I have found it an irreplaceable part of my life that makes this world’s chaos seem a little more organized. And I recommend it to any and all wanting to organize their life, and trying to ramp up their productivity! Creating a to do list however, also goes hand in hand with your goals. If you’d like to see how to make goals and stick to them, click here.
Thank you so much for reading this edition to the Welcome To My Shoes blog! Don’t forget to like, share this post, and subscribe so you don’t miss out on a thing! Oh, and one last question, have you ever used a to do list before? If you have, how do you like to organize it? If you haven’t ever made one, do you think you’ll try one now? Please leave a comment below with your answers, I love hearing from all of you! See you in a couple weeks!