Beck Wadworth x Father Rabbit: Writing A To-Do List

Beck Wadworth, from An Organised Life shares her 4 simple tips for writing a to-do list you will actually tick off.

Below are the basic tools you need to know in order to write a to-do list like a pro:

1. Keep It Simple

One of the easiest ways I organise my daily life is by writing a big to-do list every evening for the following day. For me I prefer to write everything down I need to remember. However if to-do lists are new for you, keep in simple. A to-do list is not there to make you feel overwhelmed and disappointed if you don't achieve everything. A to-do list is there to help with time management, prioritising your day/workload and to ultimately guarantee you a productive day.

First things first, write down the top THREE tasks you need to achieve. Where possible, focus on your three MIT's (Most Important Tasks) in the AM when your attention span is high and you are feeling fresh & motivated. If you feel comfortable adding other tasks to your to-do list, leave a gap and continue writing other 'minor' tasks, meetings or reminders you have for the day.

2. Create A Code

It's important to segment your to-do list/day into sections. This will help you manage your time, prioritise your workload and make the day a lot more achievable and stress-free. As I said before - you do not need to achieve EVERYTHING on this list. It's there for you to prioritise your workload & your day. Life is fast paced, and things can change & pop up - remain flexible but know what you NEED to achieve on your to-do list that day, and what you WANT to achieve if you have no interruptions or delays. There is a big difference between need and want!

Your code can be unique to you. Here are some examples below:

COLOUR:

Pink: Top 3 Priorities - Urgent
Green: AM - Ideal Morning Tasks
Blue: PM - Ideal Afternoon Tasks
Yellow: Flexible - can be moved onto another day if need be

With the colour coding, a simple tick next to the item or box can be implemented when you complete a task.

SYMBOLS:

Personally I'm a fan of symbols. See below an example of how I organise & code my to do-list daily. And also the key I work to.

AM: Morning Task
PM: Afternoon Task
*: Priority or MIT’s
Arrow: Delayed or move forward to another day
Tick: Task completed

3. Prioritise

Once you have worked out your coding system. Go through your to-do list and allocate each item a 'code'. This will help you prioritise your day. When your to-do list is complete, read through it all and mentally prepare for the day ahead. If you want you can also time block your day. Next, switch off and relax for the evening, knowing you are organised and ahead of the game!

4. One Task At A Time

In the morning when you are focused and fresh, start your day and follow your to-do list. Concentrate on one task at a time where possible, and enjoy the satisfaction of ticking of at least your x3 priorities or MIT's.

Enjoy, Beck x