To-Do List Do’s and Don’ts

By Michelle Gilbert
Career Services Contributor

To-do lists are something on which I thrive. Perhaps over organized, my day or week does not feel complete unless some of those to-dos have successfully been checked off my professional and personal lists. So what happens when my day is too busy to complete that long list of to-dos? How do you manage to complete those items depicted on your list without feeling as if you have fallen behind? Or, how might a to-do list be used to increase your productivity at work? Forbes lists five tricks to help increase productivity and help you tackle your to-do list without feeling overwhelmed.

1. “Keep a single to-do list for work.” It’s always good practice to keep your professional and your personal separate. Having a combined to-do list can be overwhelming and make you feel as if an end is never insight.  
2. “Follow the 1-3-5 rule.” Approach your to-do list as accomplishing one big thing, three medium and five small items. This will not only help you condense your growing list of to-dos but it will allow you to hopefully keep your priorities manageable on a daily basis.
3. “Complete one significant task before lunch.” Take one of your medium tasks or a big task and check it off your to-do list before lunch. This can give you a feeling of accomplishment before the day is half way over.
4. “Use your Calendar as a To-Do list.” If you have a calendar, whether it’s a paper calendar or one that’s connected to your email, use it! This will allow you to schedule time for each task that you want to accomplish such as your 1-3-5 items mentioned above.  Using a calendar will allow you to block out the necessary time that may be needed.
5. “Reduce meetings to increase productive time.”  Are you finding that you’re stretching yourself throughout the day due to meetings and your never ending to-do list? Although it might be easier said than done, try and limit your meetings. If you know you have a busy day ahead, block out the time on your calendar to accomplish some of those to-do items.

Although some of these suggestions may need some extra planning – especially depending on your specific job – following these five tricks will set you on the right course, helping you organize your day-to-day to-do list just a little better.