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How Writing To-Do Lists Helps Your Brain (Whether Or Not You Finish Them)
Writing helps your memory
When you take notes, you need to filter external information, summarize it in your head, and then write it down.
Your brain decides which pieces of information to hang onto for later, partly as a result of how much work you do to them upfront–so the more you mentally manipulate a piece of information, the better you’ll remember it.
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Planning your goals
Planning turns abstract goals into concrete work.
For most people, the challenge is making sure we get the big-picture projects done, those that make work fulfilling. And it's hard to achieve them without breaking them into a coherent set of concrete actions you can take on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
To-do lists and calendars
Once you write down the tasks you need to perform, you then have to clear space in your day to put some of those tasks onto your calendar.
This calendar maintenance is itself a useful exercise for fighting the tide of interruptions you’re always facing. It pulls your brain out of a reactive mode and forces you to think about the long term.
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Eliminate
See if you can cut your tasks and projects lists in half. Then try to cut them even further a few days later.
See which tasks aren't necessary anymore and find the ones that can be del...
Know what’s essential
You really should focus on one goal at a time, but if you want to do 2 or 3, that’s OK too.
Any smaller tasks are essential if they help you accomplish those goals, and not essential if they’re not related.
Simplify your commitments
You can't do it all. Only stick to those commitments in your life that really give you joy and value.
For the rest, you need to learn to say no, and value your time.
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A Specific Daily To-Do List
- You should only put things on a to-do list that you have the time and resources to achieve.
- Big goals and projects should be broken down into actionable tasks. ...
An Outsource List
- Look at everything on your to-do list and ask yourself, ‘Am I the only person who can do this?’
- Anything that can be given to someone else should be put on an outsource list.
- While outsourcing takes the extra time upfront to train someone else on the task, it saves you time later, which can be used to focus on the things you do have to do.
A Long-Term Goals List
Even if you think it’s too big of a dream but it’s something you want, write it down anyway.
When you write something down, studies say you’ll be 33% more likely to do it because it sets an intention and puts a goal into motion.
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Get Your System Under Control
Create 3 different to-do lists:
- Important but non-time sensitive projects list
- Items that need to be completed today list
- Not-to-do list
The Not-to-do List
The purpose of this list is to know the tasks the are not important and are not worthwhile. There are a lot of things worthy of your time and getting rid of those unnecessary tasks will give you more time to complete more important tasks.
How to Make Your Don't Do List
- Reevaluate your to-do list: Identify the goals and determine how the items in your list impact your aims.
- Create your not to-do list: Cut those unimportant tasks in your to-do list and paste it on your no to-do list. By doing this, you must accept that your time is limited and commit on letting them go.
- Evaluate new tasks: From then on, once a new assignment arrives, evaluate its importance and the effects of it with your goals.