Why I Make To-do Lists

By Author: Jesse Whitehead
Total Articles: 130
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I love making to-do lists. Maybe it's some kind of obsessive disorder or fetish - I don't really know. But the fact is, I've been making these lists for years and I enjoy it now as much as I ever have. I discovered there is real value in making to-do list, and I make a habit of doing it every day. In this article I will reveal some things I've discovered about to-do lists.

1. When I write down my activities on a list it seems more real than when it is merely a thought in my head. Something about writing things on paper brings it from the abstract to the concrete. Because I can see it visually it is more tangible - a real task that needs to be done.

2. It creates a sense of urgency. The list of tasks I've written down on paper is sitting there, staring me in the face, screaming for attention. Honestly, it kind of bothers me when things are left undone, and when I see that list of things to do, I'm going to get on it right away.

3. A to-do list enables me to prioritize each item by order of importance. When I write everything down on a to-do list, I can quickly scan it and determine which items need to ...
... be completed the soonest. The items that are most important I will give a number 1; those that are a little less important I will give a number 2; next most important items I will give a number 3, and will continue to prioritize this way until all items have been ranked. I can therefore work on those items that are the most critical and not waste my time on things that do not need to be done right away.

4. When I write down things on my list, I don't have to rely on my memory anymore. This is a good thing, because when it's all in my head, there's a very good chance I'll forget something. Putting my to-do items on my list relieves the pressure of trying to remember everything mentally.

5. I can see what still needs to be done. If I have 10 things on my list, and I cross off 5 of them by mid-day, I see I have only 5 left to complete for the rest of the day. This often gives me renewed energy and desire to complete the remaining tasks quickly and mark them off of my list.

6. It makes me feel good when I mark off each task from my list one-by-one as I complete them. When I have a long list of crossed-off items, I can see I've made progress completing my tasks, which gives me a great sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction.

In conclusion, I can say that my habit of making regular to-do lists has dramatically improved my productivity. Writing down my tasks on paper makes it more concrete and real. It creates a sense of urgency, and enables me to prioritize each item by order of importance. It takes off the pressure of having to rely on my memory. I can visually see what I've accomplished, and what still needs to be done. I highly recommend getting in the habit of making regular to-do lists for anyone who desires to organize their tasks more efficiently, and get more done during the day.
Jesse Whitehead enjoys writing articles on a variety of different subjects. His latest interest is in Wolf Watch Winders. Come visit his latest website at AutomaticWatchWinders.org for more information about Wolf Automatic Watch Winders.