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

by Damon Zahariades

For example, consider the to-do item “contact Bob about the TPS report.” The verb “contact” is helpful, but imprecise. It can mean any of the following: Call Bob on the phone Email Bob Send Bob a text message Stop by Bob’s office Leave Bob a message in his inbox There’s value in choosing the precise verb that defines the task. Again, be specific. Will you call Bob or email him? Will you text him or stop by his office? The right verbs encourage execution. They encourage you to take action. The wrong ones do the opposite. They encourage procrastination. Verbs like explore, plan, and touch base lack specificity. As a result, they’re less effective than verbs like research, draft, and call. These latter choices have more impact because they imply specific actions. They leave nothing open to interpretation.