I have always been a person who procrastinates (and I kind of still am). So, I wanted to create a process for myself by which I would be motivated enough to not only make to-do lists, but also to finish everything I wanted to do on that list.
I use a combination of my planner (it used to be my bullet journal in 2021) and Google Calendar for this process. Here is my Three-Step Process on how I stay ahead of my to-do list.
How to make a To Do List that helps you complete your tasks (My three step process)
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The first step begins the night before, wherein I make a list of things to do (i.e., the task list) for the next day. I do this step just before I go to bed.
I do this so that I remember what all I wasn’t able to complete during the day and add it to the list for the next day. I make this list in my planner (in the weekly section).
Make a task list on the night before
Second Step – Priority List
The second step is done the next morning. In this step, I first review last night’s to-do list and update it with any new tasks I receive in the morning. Then I decide what the most important tasks for the day should be, so that I can finish them on a priority basis. Thus, I prioritize the most important things to do that day from my to-do list.
I use a memo pad on my desk to write down my priority list tasks, so that it is visible to me at all times and also, it is fun to tick off. I try to limit my tasks to 5, so that it will not overwhelm me.
Make a priority list of the most important tasks for the day
Third Step – Time Blocking
For the last step, I use Google Calendar. You could also use Notion as an alternative option. In this step, I allocate time on an hourly basis to the items on my Priority List, so that I can have a fair idea of how long I will take to finish my tasks. This is also called Time Blocking.
This step helps me decide whether I will have time for some non-priority tasks as well. It is also important to keep some time as buffer, to account for any unforeseen events happening.
Use Google Calendar/ Notion to do time blocking for the day
Conclusion
Making a to-do list is easy. Following through is the hard part, which is the reason why I came up with this 3 step process. So, this is how I try to manage my time on a daily basis. Let me know in the comments if you found this useful.
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