Improving Your To-Do List
I am currently promoting one book, editing one book, and free-writing (seat of my pants style) another book. On top of that, I decided making a cat couch for my grandmother's cat was a quick project (and has proven not to be), have yet to finish a counted cross stitch from before I got married, and started a huge blog project that requires me to play through every Nancy Drew game. You'll see that project debut when it debuts. No promises on when that happens. My point is this; I have to have all this in an organized list to get it all done.
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To-do lists are ages old because humans clearly need to stay busy. Today we're talking about how to make a good, productive list or find an app that helps you do just that. We're starting with the qualities of a good to-do list and going into apps last. I think there is a lot to be said for a paper/pencil journal -especially when your electricity is not functioning or you don't charge devices as you should. This is precisely why my crochet patterns are printed or written in a notebook. Our devices eventually die, but a good journal written in pen will not be deterred.
Master List and Many Lists Connected
Isn't it helpful to only have one list? Yes, but if you want to break down what goes into each project it helps to create a master list and maybe devote a page to each project. I know I said paper and pen are great. I also recommend Excel or a Word document on an online cloud (where it can be accessed everywhere on any device). Google Docs may be helpful here, too. Make time to do this in your schedule so you keep yourself moving on stuff. Brain dump first, though, before you organize.
Start with the master list, then prioritize what is most important. Put that on a "first priority" list (call it what you want, I call it Tier 1). Everything else can get put in order of importance. Have three tasks you have to finish that day and go from there. If you have the energy to do more, do so, but if you don't you still cross off three tasks. Your fuel tank of productivity is only so full. Don't burn yourself out.
Determining your top three is dependent upon what impacts your day the most, what needs to get done, and (if you get nothing else done) what will make you feel accomplished. Also, keep in mind that tasks you tend to put off might need to be in your top three. Rip off the bandaid and just do it. This works because you have a full tank of metaphorical gas in your productivity car and should take advantage of a full tank. You only have so much to give, so don't be trying to raise the Titanic in one day.
Breaking down tasks may help you chunk tasks. Pomodoro methods could be helpful here, too. Basically, the Pomodoro method is doing a task fully for a specific period of time, rewarding yourself with something for a shorter period of time, and then repeating that. Chunking tasks will allow you to feel accomplished by doing little steps toward a bigger goal. It may be done faster if you think of it this way. Take those big monster-sized projects and make them little mini-bosses to conquer. Before you know it, you may have conquered the whole thing.
Are some tasks not done because they hold no importance to you? Think about the tasks you are putting off on a daily basis. Why are you doing that? Let me give you an example. I need to message my editor, but I want to wait for a time with Matt - and I keep forgetting about it once Matt gets home. I keep putting off a haircut (just a trim) because it takes time and a phone call (don't like those) to set it up and go do it. I keep putting off shopping because I literally don't feel like driving to a shopping mall or store alone to shop. I'm seeing a trend in my life; I don't like calling to make appointments of any kind. I also don't shop often. The point is, there is probably a reason you don't want to go do something. Just rip off that bandaid or, if unimportant and pointless, cross it off the list entirely.
Do you have no energy today? You can make a list for that eventuality. Do you have too much energy? Same concept. You can do a lot on some days and almost nothing on others. No matter how you feel, you did something if you pick an item and do it. You can make lists for other eventualities too, like depression, holiday schedules, and days you don't have much time. Make the lists you need and want to. Put them all in one place for you to access easily. Be it a fridge, computer, or work desk, it doesn't matter. Just make sure it isn't hard to find. You won't use what is out of sight and out of mind. It can be as short and long as you like. Everyone's brain is different. You can even schedule tasks in your week. Reflect on what does and doesn't work.
Another method is making a column for each day of the week, separating that by a line (on graph paper, mostly likey), and writing tasks in on the other side. This puts everything on one page as opposed to many pages. You can also track tasks doing that. It's called the running task list.
Keeping Priorities Straight
Some of you may be asking how to prioritize everything because everything is important. That starts with brain dumping, putting everything down on paper or Word document. From there you pick up the tasks that can't wait. Highest-effort tasks should be coming first, and be done one at a time. I did an entire blog on how multi-tasking is only done by computers and we switch tasks only. Find that here. Keep in mind how much time a task takes you before you try to tackle it. Attempting what isn't manageable will only damage you.
Some things you do are daily chores/tasks. They happen every day or every week for you. Others only happen once a month (paying bills) or once a year. What is one and done, and you are avoiding it, should be at the top of the list. If you are biting a bullet or ripping off a bandaid, metaphorically, it needs to be done sooner rather than later.
The time you take to do something is important. You can cut it really close if you think you have days to do something and then it takes days to do, and you had to rush. Take the time to figure out how long doing something takes you by timing it or logging it. For example, this blog was started at 3 pm-ish and it is now about 5 o'clock. If you know it takes you more than one hour don't make yourself do it in an hour. Give yourself realistic standards. Chunk it if you have to. A little bit a day gives you forward progress. Deadlines are real and can really bite if you don't keep on top of it. Some people need to give themselves a deadline to keep themselves going, like my husband.
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Another method is the ABCDE method, which has you giving tasks letters and numbers. A at highest and E at lowest, you give your tasks a letter, then a number of what order you'd do it in. You'll get tasks D2 and A3 and such by the end, which gives you an order to put it in.
Apps That Can Help
I don't want to go too long on this, so I'm just going to leave you to explore these apps. Apps on this list are all highly suggested in a best apps article. Some of these are really fun, like Habitica (which makes your tasks like quests). Look them up as you wish to, and I'll give you the articles to look at here: 8 best to do list apps of 2023 | Zapier and here: 8 To-Do List Apps To Help You Get Organized - CNET
Todoist
TickTick
Microsoft To Do
Things
OmniFocus
Habitica
Google Tasks
Any.do
Google Keep
Apple Notes
Apple Reminders
Notion
PenBook
Oh, and no, I can't forget a wrote a book, especially now that I'm more than halfway to my first goal of selling 50 books. I have sold 34 books as of this weekend.
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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have two five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page.
Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him?
Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.
Sources:
journal - https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/bulletjournalist/how-to-craft-a-better-to-do-list
https://diaryofajournalplanner.com/bullet-journal-to-do-list/
https://rediscoveranalog.com/bullet-journal-weekly-log-running-list/
https://www.teamwork.com/blog/how-to-prioritize-tasks/
https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/creativity-culture/how-to-prioritize-tasks
https://www.lifehack.org/858070/how-to-prioritize
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