Lists can be as flexible or rigid as we like.They allow us to plan our time more effectively and schedule well-deserved breaks or downtime when necessary. To-do lists allow us to feel productive, especially if things can be crossed off early in the day. Planning out how to keep our commitments makes us far more likely to accomplish our goals.

Until you write them down, the things you need to complete are all too easily dismissed as tasks that aren’t important. There are a few reasons why lists have become such an important part of our daily lives: The fact that there always seem to be a few things we never get around to isn’t necessarily a bad thing – but it is something that you can account for when making your lists.īut why should you be making lists in the first place? The Benefits of Making Lists That said, to-do lists have an undeniable effect on our psyche. Unfortunately, only 11 percent accomplished all of the tasks they planned to have completed, citing their tendency to become easily distracted. If any of this is sounding familiar to you, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone.Īccording to a recent LinkedIn study involving 6,500 professionals in more than 15 countries, 63 percent said they tracked their progress via to-do lists. I tried to just think of things in the moment and then put them into my mental “Remember this for later” folder.īut do you know what happens when I try this approach? I end up coming back from the grocery store with tons of food I didn’t need and not the three items I did. Like, “Ahh, now I know I won’t forget any of these things.” And then I can focus on relaxing or doing whatever I want.

When I can see my priorities mapped out in front of me, I feel… calmer. I can’t go grocery shopping, plan my week, write a blog post or even enjoy my weekend until I’ve made a list for it (this last one can drive the people around me a bit crazy, but I seriously prefer to plan my weekend activities via lists). I feel like I can’t properly think until I’ve made a list. I have two great loves in life: coffee and making lists.īut seriously, I love, love, love list-making. You can find her on, on The Huffington Post, and on Google+ and Twitter. She is a productivity blogger and efficiency enthusiast.

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