To-Do List Formula

1. Understand the true purpose of to-do lists: Organization and prioritization

The main purpose of your to-do list is to help you organize your tasks and projects, and highlight the important stuff.

Effective task management. To-do lists are not just about getting everything done, but about organizing and prioritizing tasks to focus on what's most important. They help you get things out of your head and onto paper or a digital platform, providing a clear overview of your responsibilities.

Focus on high-value work. By understanding the true purpose of to-do lists, you can create a system that directs your attention to high-priority tasks, ensuring you make progress on your most important goals. This approach reduces stress and increases productivity by helping you allocate your time and energy more efficiently.

2. Separate current tasks from future tasks to reduce overwhelm

Use a "current task" list to decide how to allocate your time and attention each day.

Two-list system. Maintain a "current task" list for items that must be completed today and a "future task" list for everything else. This separation helps prevent feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending list of tasks.

Daily focus. By concentrating on your current task list, you can approach each day with a clear, manageable set of objectives. This practice increases the likelihood of completing your daily tasks, boosting your sense of accomplishment and motivation.

• Current task list: Limited to tasks for today
• Future task list: Repository for all other tasks
• Benefits: Reduced stress, increased productivity, better time management

3. Define tasks by desired outcomes and link them to specific goals

The only reason to do something is if doing it moves you closer toward achieving a specific goal.

Purpose-driven tasks. For each task on your list, identify and write down the specific goal or outcome it supports. This practice helps you understand the importance of each task and increases your motivation to complete it.

Prioritization tool. By linking tasks to goals, you create a natural prioritization system. Tasks that contribute directly to your most important goals rise to the top of your list, ensuring you focus on high-impact activities.

• Write the desired outcome next to each task
• Regularly review and update your goals
• Use goals to guide task selection and prioritization

4. Break down projects into actionable, individual tasks

If we don't invest the time to break down projects to their smaller, more manageable pieces, this motivation-crushing process is likely to repeat itself day after day.

Avoid procrastination. Large, vague projects on your to-do list can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. By breaking them down into smaller, specific tasks, you make them more approachable and actionable.

Clear progress tracking. Smaller tasks allow you to see clear progress as you complete each item, providing motivation and a sense of accomplishment. This approach also helps you identify potential roadblocks or dependencies early in the process.

• Identify the constituent parts of each project
• Create individual tasks for each step or component
• Ensure each task is specific and actionable

5. Assign realistic deadlines and estimate completion times for each task

When a deadline is set without a reason - that is, the date is arbitrarily chosen - there's less impetus to take action.

Realistic planning. Assign a deadline to every task on your list, ensuring each deadline is realistic and has a clear reason behind it. This practice helps create a sense of urgency and improves your ability to manage your time effectively.

Time estimation. For each task, estimate how long it will take to complete. Be realistic and consider potential obstacles or dependencies. This practice helps you create more accurate schedules and avoid overcommitting.

• Set deadlines with clear reasons
• Estimate completion time for each task
• Consider Parkinson's Law: "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion"
• Regularly review and adjust deadlines as needed

6. Limit daily tasks to seven and maintain a separate "tiny task" batch list

I strongly recommend limiting the number of items on your daily to-do list to seven. This is a manageable number.

Focused daily list. Restrict your daily to-do list to seven items that require at least 15 minutes to complete. This limit helps maintain focus and increases the likelihood of completing all tasks, boosting motivation and productivity.

Batch tiny tasks. Create a separate list for tasks that take less than 10 minutes to complete. Set aside specific time blocks to work through these "tiny tasks" in batches, minimizing distractions and task-switching during your main work periods.

• Daily to-do list: 7 items, each taking 15+ minutes
• Tiny task batch list: Tasks under 10 minutes
• Benefits: Improved focus, reduced overwhelm, efficient handling of small tasks

7. Organize tasks by project, type, and location for better context

Task-level context is an important part of any to-do list system.

Contextual organization. Create separate lists or categories for tasks based on their associated project, type of activity (e.g., creative, analytical), and location constraints. This organization method provides valuable context for each task, helping you choose the right tasks at the right time.

Improved decision-making. With tasks organized by context, you can quickly identify which ones are best suited for your current circumstances, energy levels, and available resources. This approach increases efficiency and reduces decision fatigue.

• Create project-based lists
• Categorize tasks by type (e.g., creative, analytical, mindless)
• Group tasks by location requirements
• Use color-coding or tags for easy visual identification

8. Regularly prune unnecessary tasks from your master list

Pruning your list helps you to keep it under control. You'll be able to more easily identify important projects and their associated tasks.

Maintain list relevance. Regularly review your master task list and remove items that are no longer necessary, relevant, or aligned with your current goals. This practice keeps your list manageable and focused on what truly matters.

Types of tasks to remove:

• Wishes: Vague, overly broad items that lack specificity
• Unclear tasks: Items without clear context or purpose
• Trivial tasks: Low-impact items that can be eliminated without consequences
• Resolutions: Habit changes that should be treated as separate projects

Improved focus. By keeping your master list clean and relevant, you'll find it easier to identify and prioritize your most important work, leading to increased productivity and reduced stress.

9. Use active verbs to make tasks more actionable and motivating

Phrasing tasks with the right action verbs will motivate you to take action on them.

Action-oriented language. Begin each task on your list with a specific, action-oriented verb. This practice makes tasks more concrete and easier to start, reducing procrastination and increasing motivation.

Clarity and specificity. Using precise verbs helps clarify exactly what needs to be done, making it easier to estimate time requirements and identify necessary resources.

Examples of effective task phrasing:

• Instead of "Report": "Write first draft of quarterly report"
• Instead of "John": "Call John to discuss project timeline"
• Instead of "Presentation": "Create outline for sales presentation"

10. Conduct weekly reviews to maintain an effective to-do list system

Weekly reviews are critical. They make the difference between a system that motivates you to get important stuff done and one that encourages you to procrastinate.

Regular system maintenance. Set aside time each week (e.g., Sunday evening) to review and update your to-do lists. This practice ensures your system remains relevant, organized, and aligned with your current goals and priorities.

Key steps in a weekly review:

• Review all to-do lists (master, context-based, and daily)
• Capture new tasks and ideas
• Break down new projects into individual tasks
• Organize tasks by context
• Clear out your email inbox
• Purge unnecessary tasks
• Update deadlines and priorities
• Plan the upcoming week

Continuous improvement. Regular reviews allow you to identify areas for improvement in your task management system, helping you refine your approach over time for maximum effectiveness.

Last updated: January 24, 2025