Is there a true and honest answer? Nah – it’s all about speculation and opinion. We happen to think positively… To-do lists can increase positivity. Here’s why.
Create Order in Your Day-to-Day Life
Projects and plans can be complex, taking dedicated time and effort to complete. If you break it down in a step-by-step manner, you can easily and efficiently progress, and get the job done quicker.
Refer to a list as taking bite-sized steps in productivity. Not only will it feel more achievable, but it’ll also give you a guide to follow and thoroughly strategize.
Enhance Internal Motivation
Whether it be for work or home life, to-do lists can act as your saving grace. Why? Because if you have too much on your plate, overwhelm will set in and your internal mindset will lose motivation.
Start jotting things down in a notebook or on a pad. Organize things according to when they need to be done, so that you can prioritize without overthinking. As you start to check items off your list, you’ll start to feel good. Free. accomplished.
Note: We find it best to focus on one day at a time – realistically write down what you can handle, then start fresh the next day.
Clean Out Your Brain, Leaving Room for More Memory-Oriented Thoughts
We’re human, which means that we’re naturally imperfect. Our little brains only have so much space to keep thoughts roaming around. So if you have too much pent-up stress, offloading tasks onto a list can act as the magical temporary solution to your current problems.
Once those to-do’s are written down, you’ll free up some space for things like critical thinking and decision-making. Believe us when we say, this can make a whole world of difference.
Give You a Dopamine Boost
Dopamine is the happy, feel-good hormone running through our bodies. The trick is, not everything can give us a dopamine rush.
On the list of things that can include completing tasks and checking them off of a to-do list. The reason being it provides our bodies and minds with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, reinforcing productivity and enhancing motivation.
Manage Time Better
Time management is a valued quality that many managers and supervisors look for in their employees. If you know how to manage your time, you’re automatically considered an asset.
What does a to-do list have to do with managing time? It trains your brain to list out priority tasks and make sure you achieve daily goals. After a while, you’ll increase your speed and performance; the process will come naturally.
Tips for Creating a Solid To-Do List
- Keep the list on your person wherever you go for reference. You can also add items to the phone memo or piece of paper you travel with if something important comes up.
- Be specific with your tasks so that you don’t forget areas of the job that need to get done.
- Adopt the two-minute rule, stating that if a task takes you less than two minutes, do it immediately. No need to add a line item to your to-do list.
- Break large to-do’s into smaller chunks so that you can visually see progress. Instead of saying “clean the kitchen,” swap it for “mop the floor,” “wash the sink,” and “clean out the refrigerator.” This will increase motivational efforts.