You’re sitting at your desk consumed by the amount of work you have to do. You have so much going through your head you don’t even know when to begin. I completely understand the amount of overwhelm and chaos you’re feeling. I’ve been there so many times.
Like many of you, I’m a busy mom. I’m juggling working full time, blogging, self-care, staying fit, etc.
This article is full of resources about exactly what you need to create a to-do list that motivates you!
List out all your tasks
The easiest way to work is by laying everything out and organizing it from there.
The first thing you should do is list out all the tasks you have.
Here is step by step how I list out all my tasks:
1.) Create a new list on a clean sheet of paper or Word document
2.) Add any tasks from the prior week’s to-do list you did not get accomplished
3.) Go through your inbox and write down action items from your email
4.) Scan your calendar and write down any tasks associated with upcoming appointments or meetings
Organize Your Tasks Appropriately
This short video does an excellent job of breaking down how to organize your tasks appropriately.
Ways to organize your tasks:
1.) Priority
2.) According to your most productive times of day
3.) Based on urgency and importance
4.) Block schedule
5.) Give each day a theme
Personally, I do a combination of organizing tasks based on priority and time of the day. There is usually one larger task that must be complete that day. This is my “domino task”. Once I complete this task, all the other tasks can fall into place like a domino effect.
I complete this task first thing in the morning, if possible when I am the most productive.
Make it Pretty
Grab your pens, stickers, washi tape, and highlighters…it’s time to plan!
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen this planner so many times. I love my Happy Planner! I use one planner to organize my personal life and one planner to organize my work life.
As much as possible, I try to reduce my impact on the world by making sustainable choices, however, I thrive with my paper calendar. To keep me organized, I need to physically write out my tasks and cross them off.
Having these tasks written in my planner filled with bright pen colors and sassy stickers is so motivating to me! It makes creating my lists fun, but it is also incredibly motivating.
Set realistic expectations
If you want to have a to-do list that motivates you, you should work to set realistic expectations.
As great as it may feel to tell yourself you’ll do all the things, what will most likely happen is you’ll get completely overwhelmed with the tasks and not actually accomplish anything at all.
Have Grace
I am a self-proclaimed perfectionist. It has taken me a long time to get here, but I can proudly say I now grant myself the grace to not freak out when I don’t accomplish all of the tasks I’ve prioritized for myself.
It’s inevitable. You’ve organized, you’ve planned, you’ve set realistic expectations and you still didn’t finish everything.
While you can allow that to cause you anxiety and give up on all things organization and to-do lists, I would encourage you to give yourself some grace.
Some weeks are busier than others and sometimes tasks just don’t get done like we’ve planned and that is okay. There are also the inevitable unexpected situations that are out of your control.
Remember, a lack of planning on someone else’s part does not constitute an emergency on your part.
It is not always possible to rearrange your to-do list because someone else has missed a deadline or given your important information at the last minute.
Let Me Know With A Comment
To-do lists are so important to help layout tasks in front of you and keep you focused. Try incorporating these tips to create a to-do list that motivates you.
What does your to-list look like currently? Are you motivated to complete the tasks you’ve set? Do you stick to your to-do list? Let me know with a comment! I want to hear from you.
Great Read! Organizing your to-do list 100% helps so much!
Grace,
Totally agree. To-do lists are an organization game changer!
I needed this today! Thanks for sharing these great tips for my to do list. Going to try some right now.
Jamie,
I’m so happy this was helpful for you! Hope they help you stick to your to-do list.
Jamie,
I’m so happy this was helpful for you! Hope they help you stick to your to-do list.