Daily To Do Lists – The Perfect Format (Part 2)

There are different components in creating daily to do lists: implementing a format that allows you to be successful, deciding what goes on there, using a system that you don’t detest, and creating a list you can actually complete.

In last week’s post, we browsed five different tools for managing your daily to do lists:

1. A good ol’ paper list system. You can use one sheet of paper for the week or start fresh with an updated list each day.

• A digital word processing document. Going digital allows you to add, edit, delete, strike through and move items around as priorities change. You don’t have to re-write your entire list each day; you simply edit the one that’s in front of you.

• A spreadsheet, which allows you to easily categorize your tasks and has built-in columns for tracking.

• A Task App. You can monitor your tasks from the palm of your hand and set reminders.

• And a CRM. A CRM that integrates Project Management can help you stay organized and delegate to others.

Each of these 5 options I mentioned allow you to capture all of your plans, tasks and ideas in one place, and then pull them out, one by one, to create your daily to do lists. Our brains operate more efficiently when we have a smaller number of items to choose from on our daily list, instead of trying to look at a list of 100 items and decide from there what to do next.

In the end, should you go paper or digital or use an app or a software platform? What’s the best system to use?

Are you ready for the big secret? While clocks, calendars and task lists are all important time management tools, they’re not the most critical. You see, time management is all about mind management, so that means that the most critical tool is your brain. The “perfect format” isn’t necessarily the cheapest option or the most expensive option or the product with the highest number of starred ratings.

The “perfect format” for you is the one you will make a conscious decision to use, to review at the end of each day and make an intentional choice about what you’re going to work on the next day.

What makes a task system a successful tool is when planning and intentional selection of priorities are used to develop your daily to do lists – no matter which format you use.