Tips on writing a to-do list
- Choose your medium. Consider a digital list on your computer or smartphone, a hard copy planner that you can keep with you, an app on your phone, or a list posted on a calendar in your desk area.
- Don’t make the list too long. Try to timebox your to-dos to a two-week timeframe. For anything on your mind that is farther in the future, note it separately on a longer term to-do list and come back to it later.
- Make to-do items specific and measurable. For example, “study” is not-specific or measurable. However, “create midterm study guide” is a specific task with a clear ending.
- Accept that not all of your to-dos will get done. You may have some “musts” and some “nice-to-haves.” Set a personal requirement to get at least the “musts” done. Otherwise, follow through on all you can and remember there will be time down the line for anything that is unfinished.
| TO-DO LIST 12/1-12/10 |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | Create midterm study guide |
| 2 | Mom’s birthday |
| 3 | Complete engineering assignment #5 |
| 4 | Schedule midterm study session |
| 5 | Dentist appointment 12/3 11:30am |
| 6 | Attend 1 office hour w/ Dr. Stern |
| 7 | Midterm |
| 8 | Rough draft essay #6 |
| 9 | Final draft essay #6 |
| 10 | Set up meeting with advisor |
| 11 | Complete registration |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |