How To Write The Perfect To-Do List

You know when your to-do list makes you shudder? You get a visceral reaction to it because it is so dang long and daunting.

I can relate.

Especially at 2:36am when I’m lying in overwhelm, my mind swirling with everything I need to get done.

This doesn’t happen to me (much) anymore. Because understanding one simple concept literally changed my life.

The way I wrote my to-do lists. 

Here’s what it used to look like:

• website
• financials
• sales funnel
• media kit

And when I was in the midst of my already hectic schedule, I’d look at that list and want to throw up…(or begin drinking). Neither of which were particularly helpful in getting through my day.

Ok, lets break this list down.

Website. Yes, I needed to update my testimonials, create landing pages and change all my images. Who would give me feedback? What software should I use for my opt-in? And should I hire a photographer? Ok, waaaay too much to think about right now. Lets move on to the next item.

Financials. The word itself gives me a panic attack. I hate spreadsheets. Don’t even know where to begin. Getting knots in my stomach. Next!

Sales Funnel. I needed a better one. Should it be a soft sell? No sell? How many emails? Too many questions. I need to move on. Next!

And it would continue like this as I’d make my way down the list. Without clear direction, I’d go around in circles, barely making headway.

It took me a long time to discover that website, financials and sales funnels are NOT to-do’s.

They are not action items.

Those are all PROJECTS made up of many action items.

And making this shift in the way I wrote my list my friend, was the A-HA moment that changed my life.

There are two key steps to make the list work effectively:

• #1: Break down all your projects into detailed tasks
• #2: Use a verb (an action) in each of your tasks

So here’s what “website” on my list might look like now.

Website Project

• create testimonial form on Google Docs
• email form to Sandy, Jim and Ron
• upload response to testimonial page on site
• call photographer to schedule session date
• pick out outfit for photo shoot
• create list of different shots to review with photographer

Which means instead of four tasks on my list, I may end up with forty.

This might make you think, “isn’t forty more overwhelming than four?”

Actually it’s not, because the detailed task-based list, although longer, is CLEAR and ACTIONABLE.

Unlike the “project-based lists” it gives you direction and motivates immediate action.

So now instead of feeling overwhelmed and panicked when I look at my list, I start moving forward on projects. Ain’t nothing like a list full of cross offs!

Which of course brings me to this weeks challenge.

STEP #1: If you’re guilty of adding projects to your ever-growing to-do list, take five minutes (right now) to break down ONE of those projects into detailed, action based tasks.

STEP #2: Let me know you’re committed in the comments below. It’s the first step in holding you accountable.

I have a lot more to say about managing your time and tasks so you can stop freaking you out, but start here. This is where the magic begins.

I believe in you, your business and not making things harder than they need to be.

To kicking overwhelm to the curb,
Xo,
Mridu