There is an unfortunate myth that lists make things trivial, but they make things come alive. A goal gains power when you write it down. Make a list of what you want to achieve and become in life.For instance, when you make a list of what to buy at the grocery store, you mostly focus on the things mentioned in that instead of wandering around and buying things that are not needed. Making lists keeps you focused. "CLUTTER IS NOTHING MORE THAN POSTPONED DECISION." -Anonymous

MAKE A LIST OF YOUR LIFE.

<img title="to-do list" src="https://i1.wp.com/sendtask.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Untitled-design-1.png?resize=835%2C470&amp;ssl=1" alt="to-do list" width="680" height="383" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/sendtask.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Untitled-design-1.png?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https://i1.wp.com/sendtask.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Untitled-design-1.png?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w">Do you have 10 minutes a day to add $4000 to your monthly income?&nbsp;That’s one of many reasons why having a to-do list can improve your work and personal life. To-do lists have never been as important for the modern knowledge worker.You can use one to reduce the stress in your life and get more done in less time. It also lets you become more reliable for other people and save time for the best&nbsp;things in life. In this post, we’ll look at interesting ways in which a to-do list can help you. But first, we’ll see what are the common reasons why people don’t use a to-do list.<h2>What’s wrong with to-do lists</h2>We can argue about how great to-do lists are but none of it will do good if you have a <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3054543/the-scientific-reasons-why-your-to-do-list-is-bad-for-you" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.fastcompany.com/3054543/the-scientific-reasons-why-your-to-do-list-is-bad-for-you'); return false;" dir="ltr">strong reason why you don’t use one</a>. This is why we’ll look at the three most common problems people have with to-do lists.1) To-do lists reduce flexibility 
 Having a to-do list seems like living your life according to a rigid system that turns you into a half-robot. If you’re the sort of person who can’t stand having an unfinished item on your to-do list, this could put you off.In reality, to-do lists give you more flexibility. Consider this: Is freedom not the capacity to choose your own actions? The ability to spend your time doing what you want to be doing? To-do lists help you do that. On the other hand, by leaving things to chance, you risk living your life according to other people’s agendas.&nbsp;2) You don’t need a list because you can remember what you need to-do 
 Having the mental capacity to remember all that’s on your plate is a great talent. If you’re in any sort of role where you have 10+ things you need to-do for a given day, remembering all this is a feat in itself. But when you have to <a href="https://www.teamgantt.com/guide-to-project-management/" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.teamgantt.com/guide-to-project-management/'); return false;" dir="ltr">manage many projects with dozens of tasks</a>, you might have a more difficult time.In reality, remembering is a tiny fraction of what to-do lists are useful for. If you think a to-do list is only meant to help you remember to buy milk on the way home, you’re missing the point. But more on this later.3) You never stick to your list 
 Alas, only about <a href="http://blog.idonethis.com/how-to-master-the-art-of-to-do-lists/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://blog.idonethis.com/how-to-master-the-art-of-to-do-lists/'); return false;" dir="ltr">60% of to-do list items actually get completed</a>. This could be very disappointing to people who don’t want to leave any loose ends. It could amount to stress and make you feel overwhelmed by work.This is a very legitimate reason to never start using a to-do list at first glance. The problem lies in a simple observation:<BLOCKQUOTE>People often overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can achieve in a year.</BLOCKQUOTE>Effective prioritization will help you solve this problem. You don’t have to complete everything on your list, only the most valuable items on it. Setting a high goal and doing half of the items on your list will still be much better than not doing anything at all.Also, you can reduce the number of tasks for a day and spread them out over a longer period. Don’t make things difficult for yourself. Author Tim Ferriss, for example, <a href="http://tim.blog/2013/11/03/productivity-hacks/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://tim.blog/2013/11/03/productivity-hacks/'); return false;" dir="ltr">works on only one thing every day</a>.<h2>What’s great about a to-do list</h2>Now that we’ve covered some of the most common reasons why people don’t use a to-do list, let’s look at why you should have one.It will help you feel good 
<a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/writing-about-emotions-may-ease-stress-and-trauma" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/writing-about-emotions-may-ease-stress-and-trauma'); return false;" dir="ltr"> Writing things down helps reduce stress</a> and makes you feel more relaxed. You get a feeling of being in control of your life and actions.Also, crossing items off your to-do list <a href="https://timemanagementninja.com/2015/09/why-checking-things-off-your-list-feels-so-good/" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://timemanagementninja.com/2015/09/why-checking-things-off-your-list-feels-so-good/'); return false;" dir="ltr">gives you a sense of accomplishment and progress</a>. This helps you motivate yourself and keep going when things get tough.It will help you achieve big goals 
 It’s tough to achieve big goals when they seem to overwhelm you. As a consequence, it’s easy to procrastinate on them. One of the best ways to solve this problem is by <a href="http://lifehacker.com/break-big-tasks-into-smaller-pieces-to-avoid-distractio-1498674433" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://lifehacker.com/break-big-tasks-into-smaller-pieces-to-avoid-distractio-1498674433'); return false;" dir="ltr">breaking down a large goal into smaller parts</a>. This is where a to-do list becomes significant. It lets you make large and overwhelming projects manageable.Also, you get more done by focusing on <a href="http://www.careerattraction.com/focus-matters-5-high-value-activities-will-improve-life-today/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.careerattraction.com/focus-matters-5-high-value-activities-will-improve-life-today/'); return false;" dir="ltr">high-value activities</a>. Once you have a list of things you need to-do, it’s much easier to prioritize the tasks on it. This will ensure you’re always working on the right things. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into a circle of doing what seems easiest or most urgent. Doing this may result skipping important things that don’t require your immediate attention.Another great way to use your to-do list is for <a href="https://www.rescuetime.com/" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.rescuetime.com/'); return false;" dir="ltr">analyzing your behavior later</a>. You can see which activities produced the best results and double down on them. This makes it easy to identify opportunities to focus on and things to drop off your schedule.To-do lists also <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3063392/how-writing-to-do-lists-helps-your-brain-even-when-you-dont-comple" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.fastcompany.com/3063392/how-writing-to-do-lists-helps-your-brain-even-when-you-dont-comple'); return false;" dir="ltr">help you uncover what you don’t see at first glance</a>. When you write things down, it forces your brain to think in depth about the task at hand. You may see things that you missed at first, growing your capacity to achieve good results.Also, mentally manipulating a task makes it much more likely to achieve. The more you think about it, the more it becomes prominent and important to-do in your mind.Staying focused is difficult with the number of<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/09/top-distractions-at-work-and-how-to-increase-productivity.html" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/09/top-distractions-at-work-and-how-to-increase-productivity.html'); return false;" dir="ltr"> distractions in the modern workplace</a>. Therefore, it’s easy to get off track but a to-do list can help you get back on it. Seeing a clear outline of what you should be doing can make a huge difference to your productivity.Last but not least, creating a to-do list is in its core a planning process. Planning, in turn, allows for turning abstract goals into concrete steps of action. You remove anxiety by breaking down goals and know what you should be doing at any given time. It’s a fine way to maximize your potential to achieve big goals.It will let you save time 
 Another benefit of having a to-do list is the amount of time you save. Often <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22995-every-minute-you-spend-in-planning-saves-10-minutes-in" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22995-every-minute-you-spend-in-planning-saves-10-minutes-in'); return false;" dir="ltr">planning for 15 minutes can save you an hour or more of execution</a>. It’s like building a house – you start with a blueprint, or you could make a mistake and start over again. A task list makes it easy to see the foundations of your projects and work to a predefined blueprint.Also, when you don’t have a list, you can waste time thinking about your next steps instead of taking them.It will help you be more reliable 
 One of the preeminent uses of a to-do list is remembering things and sticking to your deadlines. While a small part of the benefits, it’s still very important. Staying on top of your projects makes you a reliable team member, manager, and friend. It also opens many doors for career progression.In addition, a task list will help you manage your workload better and <a href="http://lifehacker.com/how-people-pleasers-can-learn-to-say-no-more-often-1524324151" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://lifehacker.com/how-people-pleasers-can-learn-to-say-no-more-often-1524324151'); return false;" dir="ltr">learn to say “no”</a>. At any given time you know how much you need to-do so you can plan accordingly. It’s easier to manage what you have on your plate when you have an <a href="https://sendtask.io/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=why-you-need-a-to-do-list" dir="ltr">overview of all your tasks and projects</a>. When you control your workload this way, people will respect you more for it and they will value your time.All in all, <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory.htm" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory.htm'); return false;" dir="ltr">human brains are great at making complex associations but not as good at remembering</a>. Writing a to-do list makes your memory’s job much easier. This leaves more time for creative work and allows you to keep track of your activities. This is valuable for any organization and will help you make a bigger impact.<h2>Conclusion</h2>Succeeding in today’s work environment is tough. There are<a href="http://idealistcareers.org/how-to-tackle-multiple-priorities/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://idealistcareers.org/how-to-tackle-multiple-priorities/'); return false;" dir="ltr"> too many projects and tasks to manage</a>. With new things popping up and your personal commitments, things can get overwhelming. Add the huge amount of distractions and you’re in for a difficult climb up the ladder of success.Having a to-do list can make things much easier. Whether you’re looking to achieve more of your goals or controlling your time better, a to-do list will help you. You can get a positive boost to your career by becoming the person who is always on top of things and feel good every day.Ready to try it out? <a href="https://app.sendtask.io/angular/#/signin" dir="ltr">Jump back into Sendtask</a>. 
<div>Share: </div><img src="https://i0.wp.com/sendtask.io/wp-content/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/buttons/simple/facebook.png?w=1140&amp;ssl=1" title="Facebook" alt="Share on Facebook" width="35" height="35"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/sendtask.io/wp-content/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/buttons/simple/twitter.png?w=1140&amp;ssl=1" title="Twitter" alt="Tweet about this on Twitter" width="35" height="35"><img src="https://i1.wp.com/sendtask.io/wp-content/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/buttons/simple/linkedin.png?w=1140&amp;ssl=1" title="LinkedIn" alt="Share on LinkedIn" width="35" height="35">

Do you have 10 minutes a day to add $4000 to your monthly income? This is the average income difference between people who write a to-do list and people who

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Do you have 10 minutes a day to add $4000 to your monthly income?

That’s one of many reasons why having a to-do list can improve your work and personal life. To-do lists have never been as important for the modern knowledge worker.

You can use one to reduce the stress in your life and get more done in less time. It also lets you become more reliable for other people and save time for the best things in life. In this post, we’ll look at interesting ways in which a to-do list can help you. But first, we’ll see what are the common reasons why people don’t use a to-do list.

We can argue about how great to-do lists are but none of it will do good if you have a <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3054543/the-scientific-reasons-why-your-to-do-list-is-bad-for-you" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.fastcompany.com/3054543/the-scientific-reasons-why-your-to-do-list-is-bad-for-you'); return false;">strong reason why you don’t use one </a>. This is why we’ll look at the three most common problems people have with to-do lists.

1) To-do lists reduce flexibility Having a to-do list seems like living your life according to a rigid system that turns you into a half-robot. If you’re the sort of person who can’t stand having an unfinished item on your to-do list, this could put you off.

In reality, to-do lists give you more flexibility. Consider this: Is freedom not the capacity to choose your own actions? The ability to spend your time doing what you want to be doing? To-do lists help you do that. On the other hand, by leaving things to chance, you risk living your life according to other people’s agendas.

2) You don’t need a list because you can remember what you need to-do Having the mental capacity to remember all that’s on your plate is a great talent. If you’re in any sort of role where you have 10+ things you need to-do for a given day, remembering all this is a feat in itself. But when you have to <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.teamgantt.com/guide-to-project-management/" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.teamgantt.com/guide-to-project-management/'); return false;">manage many projects with dozens of tasks </a>, you might have a more difficult time.

In reality, remembering is a tiny fraction of what to-do lists are useful for. If you think a to-do list is only meant to help you remember to buy milk on the way home, you’re missing the point. But more on this later.

3) You never stick to your list Alas, only about <a dir="ltr" href="http://blog.idonethis.com/how-to-master-the-art-of-to-do-lists/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://blog.idonethis.com/how-to-master-the-art-of-to-do-lists/'); return false;">60% of to-do list items actually get completed </a>. This could be very disappointing to people who don’t want to leave any loose ends. It could amount to stress and make you feel overwhelmed by work.

This is a very legitimate reason to never start using a to-do list at first glance. The problem lies in a simple observation:

People often overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can achieve in a year.

Effective prioritization will help you solve this problem. You don’t have to complete everything on your list, only the most valuable items on it. Setting a high goal and doing half of the items on your list will still be much better than not doing anything at all.

Also, you can reduce the number of tasks for a day and spread them out over a longer period. Don’t make things difficult for yourself. Author Tim Ferriss, for example, <a dir="ltr" href="http://tim.blog/2013/11/03/productivity-hacks/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://tim.blog/2013/11/03/productivity-hacks/'); return false;">works on only one thing every day </a>.

Now that we’ve covered some of the most common reasons why people don’t use a to-do list, let’s look at why you should have one.

It will help you feel good <a dir="ltr" href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/writing-about-emotions-may-ease-stress-and-trauma" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/writing-about-emotions-may-ease-stress-and-trauma'); return false;">Writing things down helps reduce stress </a>and makes you feel more relaxed. You get a feeling of being in control of your life and actions.

Also, crossing items off your to-do list <a dir="ltr" href="https://timemanagementninja.com/2015/09/why-checking-things-off-your-list-feels-so-good/" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://timemanagementninja.com/2015/09/why-checking-things-off-your-list-feels-so-good/'); return false;">gives you a sense of accomplishment and progress </a>. This helps you motivate yourself and keep going when things get tough.

It will help you achieve big goals It’s tough to achieve big goals when they seem to overwhelm you. As a consequence, it’s easy to procrastinate on them. One of the best ways to solve this problem is by <a dir="ltr" href="http://lifehacker.com/break-big-tasks-into-smaller-pieces-to-avoid-distractio-1498674433" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://lifehacker.com/break-big-tasks-into-smaller-pieces-to-avoid-distractio-1498674433'); return false;">breaking down a large goal into smaller parts </a>. This is where a to-do list becomes significant. It lets you make large and overwhelming projects manageable.

Also, you get more done by focusing on <a dir="ltr" href="http://www.careerattraction.com/focus-matters-5-high-value-activities-will-improve-life-today/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.careerattraction.com/focus-matters-5-high-value-activities-will-improve-life-today/'); return false;">high-value activities </a>. Once you have a list of things you need to-do, it’s much easier to prioritize the tasks on it. This will ensure you’re always working on the right things. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into a circle of doing what seems easiest or most urgent. Doing this may result skipping important things that don’t require your immediate attention.

Another great way to use your to-do list is for <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.rescuetime.com/" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.rescuetime.com/'); return false;">analyzing your behavior later </a>. You can see which activities produced the best results and double down on them. This makes it easy to identify opportunities to focus on and things to drop off your schedule.

To-do lists also <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3063392/how-writing-to-do-lists-helps-your-brain-even-when-you-dont-comple" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.fastcompany.com/3063392/how-writing-to-do-lists-helps-your-brain-even-when-you-dont-comple'); return false;">help you uncover what you don’t see at first glance </a>. When you write things down, it forces your brain to think in depth about the task at hand. You may see things that you missed at first, growing your capacity to achieve good results.

Also, mentally manipulating a task makes it much more likely to achieve. The more you think about it, the more it becomes prominent and important to-do in your mind.

Staying focused is difficult with the number of<a dir="ltr" href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/09/top-distractions-at-work-and-how-to-increase-productivity.html" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/09/top-distractions-at-work-and-how-to-increase-productivity.html'); return false;">distractions in the modern workplace </a>. Therefore, it’s easy to get off track but a to-do list can help you get back on it. Seeing a clear outline of what you should be doing can make a huge difference to your productivity.

Last but not least, creating a to-do list is in its core a planning process. Planning, in turn, allows for turning abstract goals into concrete steps of action. You remove anxiety by breaking down goals and know what you should be doing at any given time. It’s a fine way to maximize your potential to achieve big goals.

It will let you save time Another benefit of having a to-do list is the amount of time you save. Often <a dir="ltr" href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22995-every-minute-you-spend-in-planning-saves-10-minutes-in" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22995-every-minute-you-spend-in-planning-saves-10-minutes-in'); return false;">planning for 15 minutes can save you an hour or more of execution </a>. It’s like building a house – you start with a blueprint, or you could make a mistake and start over again. A task list makes it easy to see the foundations of your projects and work to a predefined blueprint.

Also, when you don’t have a list, you can waste time thinking about your next steps instead of taking them.

It will help you be more reliable One of the preeminent uses of a to-do list is remembering things and sticking to your deadlines. While a small part of the benefits, it’s still very important. Staying on top of your projects makes you a reliable team member, manager, and friend. It also opens many doors for career progression.

In addition, a task list will help you manage your workload better and <a dir="ltr" href="http://lifehacker.com/how-people-pleasers-can-learn-to-say-no-more-often-1524324151" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://lifehacker.com/how-people-pleasers-can-learn-to-say-no-more-often-1524324151'); return false;">learn to say “no” </a>. At any given time you know how much you need to-do so you can plan accordingly. It’s easier to manage what you have on your plate when you have an <a dir="ltr" href="https://sendtask.io/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=why-you-need-a-to-do-list">overview of all your tasks and projects </a>. When you control your workload this way, people will respect you more for it and they will value your time.

All in all, <a dir="ltr" href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory.htm" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory.htm'); return false;">human brains are great at making complex associations but not as good at remembering </a>. Writing a to-do list makes your memory’s job much easier. This leaves more time for creative work and allows you to keep track of your activities. This is valuable for any organization and will help you make a bigger impact.

Succeeding in today’s work environment is tough. There are<a dir="ltr" href="http://idealistcareers.org/how-to-tackle-multiple-priorities/" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://idealistcareers.org/how-to-tackle-multiple-priorities/'); return false;">too many projects and tasks to manage </a>. With new things popping up and your personal commitments, things can get overwhelming. Add the huge amount of distractions and you’re in for a difficult climb up the ladder of success.

Having a to-do list can make things much easier. Whether you’re looking to achieve more of your goals or controlling your time better, a to-do list will help you. You can get a positive boost to your career by becoming the person who is always on top of things and feel good every day.

Ready to try it out? <a dir="ltr" href="https://app.sendtask.io/angular/#/signin">Jump back into Sendtask </a>.

Why you should have a to-do list | Sendtask Blog - Productivity

MAKE A LIST OF YOUR LIFE.

CURATED BY

Related collections

More like this