How to Make the Most of Your To-Do List

No matter your method for keeping track of lists, we have simple strategies for ensuring everything gets crossed off.
by Nicole Yorio Jurick

Steven Errico/Getty Images
Steven Errico/Getty Images

The Post-It Noter
If you have a drawer stocked with sticky notes-and aren't afraid to use them-that means you absorb information visually, says organizing coach Liz Franklin, author of How to Get Organized Without Resorting to Arson. Jotting tasks on colors and shapes turns on your brain and helps you remember to-dos better than if you were using a white notepad or PDA.

Make the Most of Your Method
The biggest problems with Post-Its: They're not always there when you need them. To ensure your to-dos are always a peel away, organize the sticky notes in a manila folder, Franklin suggests. Listing one task per note, create a grid starting with priority tasks in the upper left corner and ending in the bottom right with the least urgent ones. Then peel off and toss each note when you're done. Plans changed? You can easily switch your priorities throughout the day by swapping Post-Its positions. For a fancier approach, use different colors or shapes for family members (blue for your son; green for your husband) or types of tasks (square for errands; stars for phone calls). Bonus: When you see your to-dos in one neat place it can make tasks appear less overwhelming and help better prioritize what you need to tend to first.

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Martin Poole/Getty Images
Martin Poole/Getty Images

The Anywhere Scribbler
When a to-do comes to mind, no napkin, receipt or greeting card is safe from your graffiti. "These type of women appreciate speed and convenience over everything else," says professional organizer Carmen Coker, founder of OrganizeClutterbugs.com. "They reach for the closest writing utensil and scrap of paper they see." But there's nothing wrong with taking advantage when inspiration strikes-some of the best thoughts are written on the back of a napkin.

Make the Most of Your Method
Since it's easy to misplace scraps of paper and end up forgetting items on your list (anyone who's ever run back to the grocery story three times can identify), scribblers benefit most from consolidating their lists in one central place, says psychologist Piers Steel, Ph.D., author of The Procrastination Equation. For the anti-list maker, shoving those lists into an easy-to-reach place, like the zippered area of your purse or wallet, can ensure your to-dos don't get tossed. A better bet: Create a once-a-day ritual during breakfast, before bed, or on your commute to consolidate lists into a notepad that you stash in your purse, glove compartment, or in the notes section of your phone.

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Annabelle Breakey/Getty Images
Annabelle Breakey/Getty Images

The Pen and Paper Faithful
One step more evolved than the scribbler, these types resort to good old pen and paper-and their list is long. "People who are most comfortable with pen and paper have tactile personalities," Franklin explains. "They need a list they can feel with their hands, and they get as much satisfaction from writing their to-dos as they do crossing off completed tasks."

Make the Most of Your Method
The biggest downfall to these lists: There's often no rhyme or reason to the order of the list-whatever is on the top of your mind gets written down first-which makes it easy to get overwhelmed, Coker says. To avoid getting run down by an overrun list, categorize your to-dos using one of these methods: Try a sequential approach by organizing tasks by morning, afternoon, and evening; Break the list down by location: do at home; do in the car; do at work. Or rearrange by priority: Take a look at your list and think, Which three tasks would I feel the most sense of accomplishment if I accomplished today? Focus on those first before moving on to the rest.

See More Ways to Make the Most of Your To-Do List

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