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Are you a perpetual list maker — even for fun activities? Do you keep adding tasks to an ever-growing pile of things to do? Do you ever wonder why you do a ton of stuff all day and yet still seem as if you get nothing done? Are you desperate for some easy tips to help you declutter your to-do list and finally get things done? Read on for ways to help you start organizing that list — and your life.
Benefits of decluttering your to-do list
1) Less stress
The biggest benefit of removing things from your to-do list (whether by finishing a task or taking it off the table) is getting rid of stress. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), more than 75% of adults reported symptoms of stress like headache, feeling tired, or changed sleeping habits.
2) Increased focus
“Like any decluttering project, discerning what stays or goes is the key to success,” certified professional organizer Katie Hoschouer — and mom of three — told Mom.com. “In this case, prioritizing the importance of tasks and delegating others will clear the cluttered to-do list.”
You might not realize it, but a mounting pile of responsibilities is like leaving a million open tabs in a browser — except in your mind. Closing these tabs will free up space so you can focus on the most important jobs in your life.
3) Rid yourself of guilt
Plus, even the act of deciding NOT to do something will free you from some of the mom guilt. Instead of procrastinating a decision or delaying an action, you proactively closed outstanding tasks by removing them.
How to start
4) Make a long list
Air Force veteran and mother of three Amiyrah Martin recommended this tip to Mom.com: Start off the week off by spending 15 minutes to write down all the things you need to do that week. Don’t overthink it; whatever pops in your head, write it down.
5) Sort tasks into different categories
Starting is usually the hardest part. But once you decide on a system (don’t overthink it) and get going, momentum and a few easy wins will keep you motivated. Hoschouer suggested a good way to begin. “Categorize the tasks (phone calls to make, errands to run, things to discuss, etc.) and focus on a single category at a time,” she said.
6) Prioritize tasks that are urgent and important. Remove tasks that are neither.
Mom of four Laura Canada Oneill explained to us how she approached her many responsibilities. “I find brain dumping into lists to be quite helpful. However, not all tasks are created equal for time to complete or importance,” she clarified.
One way to determine priority is the Eisenhower Matrix or the Urgent-Important Matrix. You do the jobs that are both urgent and important first. Then, you schedule the important but not urgent tasks. If possible, delegate the urgent but unimportant things, and lastly, don’t do those that are neither urgent or important.
How to create a decluttered to-do list
7) Plan the night ahead or at the start of the day
"My most productive days are when I have planned the night before for the top items to do,” said Oneill. She would include the most important items that don’t take a long time to complete for both work and personal such as paying bills, scheduling doctor’s appointments, or work deadlines.
8) Use a notebook, planner, or app
Allaya Cooks-Campbell told Mom.com, “I like to calendar or delegate things right away. If it doesn’t get put on the calendar or on paper it usually gets forgotten.” She keeps a reusable notebook where she jots down things as she thinks of them. “Every day, I write a list for the day and refer to it constantly. I copy whatever is left to do into a new list with due dates and erase all the old lists.”
If the thought of one more item in your purse or life makes you feel worse, you can use a to-do list app on your phone instead. Some popular to-do list apps are: Todoist, TickTick, Habitica, Remember the Milk, and Google Tasks. Like all apps, try a few to see which interfaces and systems you prefer and fit your lifestyle best.
9) Eat the frog
Brandi Riley tells her coaching clients to “eat the frog” or do the one thing you really don’t want to do first. Do it, get it done, and feel unburdened. Even if do you nothing else for the rest of the day, at least you know you got one major thing done.
10) Complete tasks in groups of three
Martin will create daily lists based on her long weekly list and write them in groups of three on a sticky note. “Once you finish the three tasks, you are more than welcome to pick three more,” the homeschooling mom told Mom.com. “The tasks must be completed in groups of three, though. Don’t get one done, then add new items. Finish all three, then pick three more.”
11) Give yourself grace
Sometimes, nothing on our to-do list gets accomplished. When that happens, I will write down everything I did that day and then cross them off one by one. It is satisfying and immediately declutters your to-do list.
