Simple Strategies for Creating a Better To Do List

The average person's To Do List exists on sticky notes, the backs of envelopes, or in their minds.  Sure, some days, they might get through everything they planned, but most days, this method won't cut it.  I have a proven formula for keeping a To Do List, and it's 100 times easier and more effective when you implement it on a smart phone.  Your smart phone can take you from the kind of person who is somewhat scattered and occasionally keeps a To Do List to the kind of person that is organized, calm, and has it all together.

 

Your Unloading Dock

Think of your To Do List as your unloading dock.  It's impossible to remember everything that comes up throughout the day.  I couldn't even remember where I parked when I went to the gym this morning.  To remember important things, they have to be recorded.  You have so much on your mind already.  A mental To Do List simply won't do.

 

And yes, while you could implement these rules I'm about to share with you to the To Do List you keep on your calendar or the notepad in your purse, I want to encourage you to keep it on your phone.  Face it, our cell phones are practically an extension of who we are: we carry them 24/7.  Why wouldn't you keep your list of the important things you need to do on your phone and with you at all times? 

 

Our Phones are an Extension of who we are

The average American checks their phone between 24 and 50 times per day.  If you already check your phone at least once an hour to begin with, imagine how much more productive and focused you'd be if you were reminded of the to do's and goals you're working toward as often as you check your phone.  What we think about most becomes our reality.  If you keep your To Do List on your phone, and you check it frequently, your goals remain at the forefront of your mind.  So, do yourself a big favor, and keep your To Do List on your phone. 

 

5 Basic Steps for To Do List Success

With that said, my proven formula for successful To Do Lists can be summed up in 5 basic steps.  I've found that people keeping To Do Lists are most productive and get more done in less time by following the steps below.  Here's the good news: you'll already have 2 of the 5 steps covered just by keeping your list on your smart phone!

 

1. Create your To Do List at the same time every day – When you do something at the

Smart Phone To Do List App – AwesomeNote

same time every day, it becomes part of your routine – like brushing your teeth.  Make creating a To Do List part of your every day routine to stay organized and get more done.

 

2. Maintain your To Do List in the same place – Keep your To Do List on your smart phone, and you've already got this one covered!  By keeping your list in the same location, you always know where to find it and can access it easily.  If your To Do List is on sticky notes scattered around your office or throughout the house, you will feel scattered, too.

 

3. Carry your list with you at all times. – Since your To Do List is your unloading dock, you'll use it to record important things that come up as you go about your day.  If your To Do List is not with you, you can't write down the important things that come up – it becomes just one more thing you have to remember to do later.  Your phone is with you at all times, so keeping your list on your phone will enable you to add important tasks as soon as they come up. 

 

4. Begin your list with 3 items related to your Push Goal and 3 related to your health goal. – Tackling three small tasks each day related to your Push Goal and your health goal will provide you with accountability and enable you to reach those goals much more quickly.  Completing small, bite-sized tasks gives you a sense of accomplishment, and brings you a step closer to your big goal.

 

5. Review and revisit your list several times per day. Checking your list frequently helps you stay focused and on task.   When you get distracted by the things around you, reverting back to your list will help you move from task to task more quickly.

 

Taking a few minutes to plan out your day can save you up to 3 hours of unproductive time later.  Practice the steps above to make creating a To Do List a habit.  Keep your list on your smart phone, and before long, you'll be the most productive person you know!