To-Do List Formula: A Stress-Free Guide To Creating To-Do Lists That Work!

by Damon Zahariades

Items are written down without

Context info

any indication about the time needed to complete them, their priority, and the roles they play in achieving specific goals.

to-do lists that offer no task-level context are ineffective.

The problem with broadly-defined tasks is that they’re too large in scope. Many lack a clear starting point and ending point.

The point is that you must attach a specific goal to each task on your to-do list.

This feature of the “3+2” strategy makes it compatible with popular time management strategies like the Pomodoro

Plan the layout of your new kitchen Pick the types of cabinets you want Select your preferred countertop material Choose light fixtures Explore your backsplash options List the appliances you want to replace Look for a new refrigerator to match the design of your new kitchen Call three contractors to solicit bids

Send to deja good information

This is the purpose of holding a weekly review session. It gives you an opportunity to evaluate the extent of your progress toward your various goals. It also gives you a chance to reprioritize tasks as needed. I conduct my weekly reviews on Sunday evenings. You should choose a day and time that accommodates your circumstances. Note that you’ll need to focus. So, set aside 45 minutes during which you can work undisturbed. How do you conduct a weekly review? Here are the basic steps: Gather all of your to-do lists. This includes your master list and context-based lists. Do a brain dump of all the tasks and projects floating around your head. Add them to your master list. Break down new projects into individual tasks. Separate new tasks according to context (project, type, and location). Create new context-based lists, if necessary. Clear out your email inbox. Send responses if they’re necessary. If an email requires you to take action, but isn’t urgent, make a note of it on your master to-do list and archive the message. Also, archive emails that don’t warrant a response or action, but may be needed later. Delete the rest. Review your master list and context-based lists. Purge tasks that are no longer necessary or important. Note the tasks that are both important and urgent. Mark them as candidates for your daily to-do list. Note the tasks for which you’re waiting on input from others. Write down the person’s name and the date you expect to receive his or her input. The dat...

Weekly review information