How to Make a Good Todo List

If you're anything like me, you're always looking for ways to be more productive and to use your limited time more effectively. A big part of productivity is having a good todo list. But not just any old todo list will do. In order to make a truly effective todo list, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First, it's best to write down your todos using pen and paper in a stream of consciousness. This means getting all of your tasks out of your head and onto paper. Don't worry about sorting, organizing, or categorizing them quite yet. Just get them all down in one place.

By doing this, you unburden your mind and free up attention that was previously tied down in you trying to remember all of your outstanding todos. This is the first step in David Allen’s popular Getting Things Done® approach — “Capture”. It’s crucial you don’t miss this step.

Next, create a free account at simpler. simpler is an app that helps you manage your todos in a more effective way by helping you prioritize what needs to get done so you can focus on what truly matters.

Inside simpler, add each todo that you’ve written down. For each todo, the app asks you specific attributes such as start and due date, estimated duration, importance, time-sensitivity, etc. As you're adding each todo, take a moment to think about each one and fill in as many attributes for each todo into simpler as you can.

After you've entered all of your todos into simpler, click the “Prioritize” button! You'll see an ordered list of your todos based on what needs to get done first and foremost.

Finally, once you have your list of prioritized todos, it's time to get down to business and start checking things off your list! This final step is where the magic happens and you start seeing the fruits of your labor.

By following these simple steps, you can make a good todo list that will help you be more productive and get things done. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

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