Do you often feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to finish? Or do you sometimes just forget to do important things? All of these are signs of not doing a proper “To-do list”. A “To-do list” is a list of tasks that need to be completed, typically organized in order of priority. For some of us, these lists are never-ending. Julie Morgenstern, an organizing and productivity expert said, “That’s why I don’t like to-do-lists because they become so overwhelming that they’re intimidating and then you never want to look at them.” Clare Evans, time management and productivity coach, agrees. “I don’t like calling them to-do lists. I refer to calling them as an action list,” she says. For Evans, to create an effective action list, you should just fill it with the things that you really need to finish; don’t put other unimportant tasks.

Here are some tips for you on how to make the perfect to-do list:

Keep it under control:
How many can you fit in one day? Actually, you only need to list 10 tasks at most. Determine the most important thing that you really need to accomplish and how much time you need for each task.

Start with easier ones:
You can feel good at making progress when you start doing and finishing the easier tasks. You should not squander it all on the easier tasks, for it will serve as warm-ups to high priority tasks that you really need to finish.

How many lists?
Your to-dos should be integrated into your calendar immediately. It will help you to plan for your days realistically. To avoid disordering your list and feeling overwhelmed, Morganstern suggested subdividing it. According to her, you need to do it by category or by batch processing. Do all your financial stuff, marketing stuff, and all your people stuff at one time to avoid switching back and forth.

For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards
Should you give yourself a reward once you have completed some tasks? As stated by Morgenster, it can be useful if you are motivating yourself to do what you really don’t like to do. But for some people who are craving for accomplishment, the satisfaction of getting some tasks done is far more than enough as a reward for them.

If you are planning to start doing your “to-do list”, the tips above will really help you. Always remember to keep it under control. Try to list at most 10 tasks a day and start with easier tasks. It will give you a feeling of satisfaction when things are done. Do batch processing to avoid feeling overwhelmed and lastly, give yourself a reward. So, what are you waiting for? Try making your own to-do list now. You’ll find yourself less stressed and more organized than you had ever realized!