Put simply, a to-do list is a list of actions you want to remember or need to accomplish in a given day or short time period. It solves the problem of "I forgot ..." and relieves the worry that you won't remember a need that comes up during the day.

 

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My friend Liz once said, "My mind is like a computer, and I've run out of RAM (memory space). And like a computer, I think my brain is about to crash." I heard recently that our short-term memory can only hold seven items before it starts pushing things out. That's why we forget details that we intended to handle.

 

One way to manage our time is to control the way events occur, preferably by planning what's coming instead of losing time over forgotten tasks.

Ten Reminders for a Successful To-Do List

1. Limit it. Feel out how many items you can handle in a day. When my kids were in school, I did nine items; but when they were home, I could only do three. Find the number that works for you.
   
   
2. Write it. Each day, write down what you need to accomplish. Clear out mental clutter by putting it on paper. Leave a space between each item to sandwich in higher priorities.
   
   
3. Verb-alize it. Begin each to-do item with an action verb (e.g., pay bills, call Mary, send birthday card, put away laundry, outline proposal, etc.). Your mind visualizes you in action as you "verb-alize" it and then write it down.
   
   
4. Post it. Keep your to-do list in the same place each day. Whether it's in your planner, on your kitchen counter or on a sticky note on your computer monitor, keep it anchored in one spot.
   
   
5. Refer to it. Refer to your list throughout the day until you are finished. Consider it your personal compass pointing you in the right direction.
   
   
6. Adjust it. Plan your morning to-dos the night before. Before lunch each day, plan your afternoon list.
   
   
7. Check it off. As you complete each item, check it off with a red pen, cross it off or delete it from from your computer list.
   
   
8. Practice it. It takes practice to create a list that works one day at a time. Avoid making this a long-term project list. Keep it short and use it to focus on daily tasks only.
   
   
9. Evaluate it. At the end of every day, see what worked and what didn't. This will help you avoid making the same mistake twice.
   
   
10. Toss it! When the list is complete, toss it! Enjoy two great results: emotional relief and a clear mind.

The Road Ahead

Each day, congratulate yourself on the goals you reached, and plan your list for the following day. As you practice this habit, I guarantee you will see results. But you must promise to cross off low-priority items or delegate them to another person or another day when you feel overwhelmed.

 

Remember, your to-do list should work for you, not against you. You decide what to put on it. Don't let it control your life. Just change the list if it is too much. 

 

Excerpted and condensed from Marcia Ramsland's Simplify Your Time: Stop Running & Start Living! ©2006, W. Publishing Group, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Copying or using this material without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of copyright law.

 

 

About Marcia Ramsland

Marcia Ramsland is well known as "The Organizing Pro" for her practical skills and tips to manage busy lives. As a national speaker, author and consultant since 1985, Marcia delights her audiences from New York to California with tips and secrets to organize their time, home, paperwork and life. Her tips have been in Woman’s Day and other national magazines, radio interviews and TV. She can be reached through her Web site www.OrganizingPro.com, and her books can be ordered there.