Create successful lists: ways to make it work and be more productive

Lists play an important role in our planning. There are ways to make them successful. How many times have you thought: why can’t I finish half of the tasks I have to do? You have so many thoughts on your head. Life is so busy that you are in a chaotic state. Once you organize your mind, life gets organised too. Think about it. Life is a hologram of your mind and lists can help you simplify it and drive you to success. How exactly are you going to make the perfect list? Not to worry! You just need to pay close attention to some tips. 

Photo by Marissa Grootes on Unsplash

Steps for successful lists

1. Find the right Application (or a special notebook). 

To be honest, for me it’s something like a ritual. I hit my nearest bookstore (I am a paper person), I spend hours browsing among all different notebooks until I find one I am truly excited about. Then, I choose a pen and a pencil that I use just for that. Ok, you don’t have to go to such extreme lengths but you get the point. Make it special.  Anything that matches your personality and keeps your brain excited. Making a list is easy to do but is also easy not to do.  You can skip it and convince yourself that you have it all under control. But is this always the case? Nope! You definitely need a list most of the times. When you write down everything onto a paper, you are not going to forget anything. So, you will be able to manage your tasks better and be surprised that you will get more things done in less time. Another thing to bear in mind is that writing a list needs scheduling especially when it comes to periodic lists (daily, weekly, etc.). You have to be consistent. Personally, every Sunday I sit on my desk with a cup of coffee and make a weekly list day by day. You can find your own time and space and make it a habit.

2. Note your tasks as you think of them and be clear. 

Allow it all to start and come out as you write your list. You have included everything and now the next step is to add details to the tasks that need more explanation. Include as much information as necessary for you to deliver the tasks successfully. If you write down "finish homework", this is not very clear right? The goal here is to be clear. Break tasks down into smaller ones so that they are easier to manage. Little things can make a difference and get you closer to your long-term goal. For example, instead of writing "finish homework" you can write down "study History", "solve Algebra exercises", "read a Literature extract" and address them as separate tasks. This is very important because now you have a pretty clear picture of what you need to do in order to "finish homework".

3. Assign specific timeframes. 

He’s making a list and checking it twice… unfortunately I am not Santa! Now that you have checked your list twice, go back and time each task separately. You have to be specific. When the amount of time has finished, you are done with the task too. There’s no spending extra time on that, because that will automatically mean putting off the next one. And what if the task needs to be completed at all costs and despite all your efforts you didn’t manage to do so within the timeframe you set? Of course, you are not going to leave it unfinished. Just keep reading and you will find the answer.

4. Set your priorities.  

When making a list, there are all sorts of tasks. Tasks that demand a lot of time and other ones that can be done in just a few minutes. There are also tasks that are really important and are going to need your immediate attention and the ones that can even be put off if there isn’t any time left. Here’s the trick. Put the most important ones at the top of your list knowing that they must be finished no matter what even if that means taking some extra time and potentially putting off some other things lower in your list. Let’s say you have an important test in Science the next day. Apart from this, you also have to study History and Geography. In your list, the test should be your top one priority and then History and Geography should be No 2 and No 3 goals. If studying for the exam takes up all your time (normally it shouldn’t), you may want to stay up until late at night to finish the rest of your homework. At least, the hard part will have been done and worst case scenario you will have skipped a lesson in History or Geography. You can make up for that during the following weekend. No big deal.

 

5. Limit yourself to up to 6 tasks a day. 

Now that you are motivated, you want to seize the day and write the perfect and most productive list. That can lead to a long list and add more stress instead of making things easier. You start writing your list and you write, write and then write some more tasks. Long story short, you end up with 20 in total (actual number from when I made one of my first lists as a middle-school student). You will be overwhelmed and frustrated. I am not implying that you can’t do it all. You can do anything (spiritual motivation right here!!!). However, you also need to be reasonable. During a school day, upon coming home you have about 5 hours to have dinner, study your homework/prepare for next day's work, get some rest, maybe go to an activity and finally lie in bed for the night. Plus, you should consider leaving 20 minutes of spare time in between tasks should something unexpected pop up at the last minute. If your list has reached number 20, then it starts to look intimidating. That’s why, it’s better to choose the 6 most valuable tasks to do, put them in order from the most important (top) to the least important one (bottom) and get to them one by one. In case you still find it hard to finish off all your obligations, move all unfinished business to the next list to get it done as soon as possible depending on the deadline you have set.

6. Cross out the tasks you have accomplished. 

Oh that is the most rewarding step! Believe me! You can’t imagine the satisfaction you feel the moment you check the box of the first task you have accomplished. This is the most fun part. Draw boxes and tick them, cross out finished tasks, draw hearts… customize it: anything that’s pleasant to your eye and makes you feel you are doing what you should in the best way possible. Once you try it, it feels really good. It has a gratifying sense. Sometimes it might even be relieving to complete a task that you have been dragging for quite some time now. Whichever the case, it’s a great feeling and you mustn’t skip this step under any circumstances.

Now, you are all ready to start writing your list. Do you have any key ingredients of making a successful list? Comment down below and let me know. Like and share this post with your friends.