The Ultimate To-Do List Guide
Believe it or not, with the school on hold, assignments have been a rebellious flood. And yeah, although we all understand that this is all due to the pandemic, we also cannot deny the time we've wasted procrastinating. Online classes may be tough, setting tasks for yourself may also be tiring, and keeping them might be even harder; however, if you learn to do them properly, they might not be as bad as you think! :)
The Ups of Writing a To-Do List
The ultimate goal of a to-do list is not to suppress your freedom or reduce your flexibility. Instead, the kernel of it is to help you stay relaxed during times of overwhelming workloads. Imagine having a bunch of time-consuming assignments put in front of you to be done the next day. This is the daunting feeling that would be suppressed with writing a to-do list. Moreover, crossing items out of your to-do list can also give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. This helps you be in control of your life and gives you a boost of motivation!!!
(#1) How To Start a To-Do List
A to-do list can start anywhere. A piece of paper, your notebook, or maybe an app you can find online! Anything that works for you is the best option :).
Many people who decide to start a to-do list tend to express their inner perfectionist; however, your to-do list does not have to be perfect or aesthetically pleasing from the very beginning. As long as you can read it, it can be the messiest list ever! So instead of carrying the burden of having to make everything pretty, focus on the contents instead.
If you're interested, check out this article for similar, online apps:
Apps You Need This School Year #notsponsored
(#2) What To Write In a To-Do List
Like I said before, a to-do list is not created to suppress your freedom; instead, the main point of it is to give you relaxation. Don't make your to-do list so grandiose that it controls your life, let yourself be the one to control it.
Keep in mind when writing a to-do list, you must write down everything that needs to be done, even the smallest things. This can be something that you've been procrastinating for a long time to something that you have to complete as soon as possible. Make sure to properly acknowledge the ones that are more of a priority, and get them done before the due date. Now, another reason why people tend to avoid writing a to-do list is due to the stress that comes from not being able to cross out all the items on their list. But this is completely fine; it might take you a long time to finish everything that is on your list, but remember that you are not required to cross out everything. A to-do list is a choice that you make, not another item to add to your list of things you cry about
(#3) Keeping up with a To-Do List
Sometimes, distractions and unexpected tasks can stop you from completing your to-do list. This frustrates many people and is the reason why many people quit doing this list-writing activity. So how do we prevent ourselves from doing this? The solution is pretty easy— balance! Some people have the tendency to fill their entire day with a lot of work without thinking about the remaining variables that may unexpectedly pop up later. This is the quality you don't want to inherit. When writing a to-do list, it is also important to give yourself the right amount of work so that if something does happen to pop up later, you have enough time to do them. Remember, you're not a robot. Sometimes, things can go wrong, and you might not have the energy to complete them all. Don't feel defeated because you couldn't complete the planned work. We always make mistakes :).
- Irene A.