How To Make a Proper To-Do List

By: Chelse Melina
Posted In: Entertainment

A magnet, shaped like a pair of Dorothy’s ruby-red slippers, is stuck to the refrigerator in the corner of Katie’s apartment kitchen. Underneath Dorothy’s magical clickers is a piece of paper titled, “Things To Do.”

The list starts with homework assignments, paper deadlines, and upcoming tests. Further down are conferences to attend, meetings to go to and emails to respond to. As a person who clearly saves the best for last, the more enjoyable responsibilities are jotted down at the very end of the paper – go to Stop & Shop, run and call home. Penciled in is a crucial reminder, which has earned the importance of an asterisk is a vital task: do laundry.

Many of you might be able to relate to Katie’s busy schedule and over-abundance of things to do. With the following steps, you will be equipped with the proper way to make an organized To-Do list, which will help you to get things done in a timely manner, allowing more free time for enjoyable activities.

Having been an avid and enthusiastic list maker since I was of elementary school age, I have personal experience and useful tips to offer. Before even picking up a pen and paper, there are a few things to think about and consider.

First of all, you will need to decide what time of day is best for you to sit down each day to make your to-do list. Keep in mind these pointers:
* When deciding what time of day best fits into your schedule, bear in mind that in order to make an effective To-Do list, approximately 10 minutes should be set aside.
* Also, consider the location of where you will make the to-do list. Just as it is easier to study in a relatively quiet area, it is also helpful to make your list in a quiet area.
* It is advisable to make your to-do list at the same time, everyday. This ensures that items on the to-do list are not forgotten or disregarded.

You are now ready to sit down and make your to-do list. Begin by gathering a writing instrument and paper.
* The piece of paper that you choose to use should be big enough to write completely, yet small enough to fold up and put in your pocket or bookbag, as it is important to take your to-do list with you throughout the day.
* When selecting the writing instrument, opt for a pen over a pencil, to guarantee easy readability.

To start the ball rolling, write down the tasks that are, in your mind, the most important. You might find it helpful to enter each task in a bulleted fashion, to make the list easy to follow and straight forward to read.

Remember to keep tasks simple in attempt to keep the list manageable. For example, if the task at hand is to pack for an upcoming vacation, don’t simply jot down “pack.” Instead, break the big task down into smaller tasks, such as “do laundry” or “get luggage out of attic.” If these items still seem big, continue to break them into smaller tasks.

Also, remember, place important items at the top of your lists. Waiting until they are urgent just increases your stress level, which totally defeats the object of a to-do list. Continue listing tasks to be accomplished until everything is jotted down.

You are now ready to prioritize your list of things to do. Completely read through your list, noting the importance of each task at hand. According to Time Management Guide, a suggested method to use when rating tasks is the ABC method.

“A” represents tasks that are urgent, such as completing a project due today.

“B” represents tasks that are important, such as pay the phone bill by the end of the week.

“C” represents tasks that are leisure activities, such as watching your favorite TV show.

Now comes the satisfying part. After you have finished each task, either cross the item off the list of place a check next to the bullet. If any items are not checked off at the end of the day, remember to transfer them to your list of things to do for tomorrow.

Throughout your whole list making process, remember the 80:20 rule, suggested by the Time Management Guide: 80 percent of reward comes from 20 percent of effort.

Prioritized to-do list are fundamentally important to efficient work. By using to-do list effectively, you will remember to carry out all necessary tasks, and will not waste time on trivial tasks.

Not only do to-do lists help to organize your everyday life, they help to eliminate stress. I cannot think of anyone who would not benefit from a little extra organization, and Lord knows we all could use less stress in life. So, the next time things get a little hectic in your life, pull out a piece of paper and a pen and create a to-do list to aide you through the chaotic time.