We rounded up some of our go-to to-do list tips, including making time-based goals, sorting tasks into categories, and ditching the list altogether.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of crossing an item off your to-do list.
However, the act of making a to-do list doesn’t mean that everything on it gets done. If you want to make your to-do list a bit more functional, keep reading for our tips.
Physically checking off a task can give you a feeling of accomplishment.
Senior Editorial Director Megan Severs makes empty boxes next to each item on her to-do list and checks them off when she completes a task.
“This helps to keep the list looking orderly and makes it less likely that I’ll overlook something when my list gets long,” she says.
Photo Editor Kristen Hom also crosses tasks off her lists.
“Putting a line through it with a checkmark is very satisfying,” she says.
Come up with a few categories of tasks. Try to give each category an equal number of items under it to ensure balance. For example, you could categorize items into:
- Work: tasks associated with your job, such as projects
- Chores: tasks associated with upkeep in your space, such as grocery shopping and cleaning
- Leisure: tasks that involve taking care of yourself, such as working out or coloring
How to make a to-do list sorted by category
- Come up with three to four categories: These can be the categories previously mentioned, or you can create your own. Parenting, relationships, creative projects, or hobbies can all count.
- Choose a realistic number of things to accomplish: For example, you may want to accomplish one task from each category every day.
- Fill out your list: Try to keep the same number of items in each category. If you can’t, that’s OK, too. It will just show you where you could use a little more balance in your life.
It’s OK if you can’t keep the list balanced all the time. For example, if you’re having a bad day, you may focus more on the leisure category. On the other hand, if you have a deadline coming up, you may focus more on the work category.
Copyeditor Naomi Farr has used the “top three” method for the past 5 years.
“[I] list the top three things that are priority that day,” she says. “The rest of the list below that are things that I’d like to get done but could do another day.”
Tips for the “top three” method
You can make this list physically or digitally.
You could even color code your top three tasks and the rest of the tasks, or physically split the list in two to solidify the separation.
Senior Manager Rose Aka-James sets a time she will aim to have each task on her list completed. For example, she may try to complete the first task on her list by 9 a.m. and the second task by 2 p.m.
“I also will sometimes create an incentive for myself for completing my list for the day. It sounds silly, but it works for me,” she says.
Sometimes it can help to ditch the constraints that come with a singular piece of paper. Sticky notes come in all kinds of shapes and colors, which can help you sort tasks into categories.
You can also hang them up anywhere, such as on the fridge or in your workspace.
Tips for sticky notes
If a task is associated with a certain room or item, you can put the sticky note there to remind you. For example, a sticky note that says “do the laundry” can hang above your laundry basket or on your washing machine.
Once you’ve completed a task, you can physically cross it off or crumple up the entire note.
Newsletter Editor Morgan Mandriota uses different mediums for different lists.
“For work, I use a custom spreadsheet and color-code tasks by due date,” she says. “I can easily see everything I need to do each week, then strike out each task once I’m done, which is super satisfying.”
“But I don’t use a spreadsheet for my household chores. I write them on a magnetic whiteboard on my fridge with colorful markers and wipe off completed tasks instead.”
How to make it work for you
Finding out which type of list works for you may take a bit of trial and error.
You can try out one type of list, and if it isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to change it. Everyone is different — what works for your coworker or your friends may not work for you, and that’s OK.
At the end of the day, if to-do lists don’t work for you at all, that is also perfectly OK.
Editor Louisa Wah has eliminated the to-do list completely, as it only added to her daily stress.
“Instead, I’ve been making “done lists” — writing down what I have done each day,” she says. “This helps me feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, no matter how few things I’ve managed to do, or how ‘insignificant’ they might be.”
There are a variety of mediums and methods you can employ to make your to-do list. Some things you can do to make your to-do list include using sticky notes and using the “top three” method.
The important thing to remember is that there’s no right or wrong way to make a to-do list, and everyone is different.
It may take some time to find what works best for you, and that’s OK. Experiment with different formats and don’t be afraid to change something that isn’t working for you.
Sarah Bence is an occupational therapist (OTR/L) and freelance writer, primarily focusing on health, wellness, and travel topics. Her writing can be seen in Business Insider, Insider, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, and others. She also writes about gluten-free, celiac safe travel at www.endlessdistances.com.
