Life is busy. With home and work constantly requiring attention, it is often hard to figure out what to tackle first and how to balance it all. Making a to-do list can be helpful. While to-do lists are a great tool, 41% of items on these lists are never completed, according to The Busy Person’s Guide to the Done List: The Science of Small Wins, from iDoneThis and author Bailey Adams. If not handled correctly, to-do lists can turn into failure lists, which actually decreases productivity and morale.
To help create and manage your to-do list, Persona Talent compiled a list of tips to tackle your to-do list using a variety of online sources related to productivity and workflow management.
Figuring out how you work can be the first step toward creating a manageable to-do list. Are you a paper-and-pen person who enjoys checking off boxes or crossing off finished tasks? Or are you a techie who enjoys finding the perfect app to record all those important tasks? Deciding the best method for you will go a long way to making sure that you stick with your to-do list and use it to increase productivity.
There are so many agendas for managing tasks from personal planners to digital apps. Personal paper planners normally come in daily planners and formats that show entire weeks or months at a glance and also include appointment times at 15- or 30-minute intervals. Digital apps offer many options for creating and maintaining a to-do list. With a few mere keystrokes, you can color-code, add reminders, or seamlessly redistribute tasks on the list.
With so many people working from home since the pandemic began, life has changed both on the home and work fronts. Working from home can be difficult because it can blur the line between work and home life. Maintaining a balance between work and home has become even more important and impacts mental health. To-do lists can be an essential tool in maintaining this balance by helping people to stay focused while working.
Whether you’re working from home or at the office, a to-do list remains a great way to decrease anxiety, increase productivity, and keep you on track—all of which contribute to overall well-being and a better workplace experience.
