The list starts short, but then you realize you need to do more stuff and so the list expands. When you divide your list explicitly on paper or in your favorite to-do app, you save your brain the effort required to divide it in your mind every time you look at it. Bonus tasks may still matter, but they aren't critical. One look at a list like that, and you know where you should focus your efforts. Divide your list explicitly into key and bonus itemsĪnother way to clearly signal which task matter is to divide it into 2 main parts - key tasks (core, must-have) and bonus (stretch, nice-to-have) tasks. It's easier to focus if you can see what's important at a glance instead of having to think about it.ģ. Got a long list? Decide which tasks matters the most and highlight them. Or put an exclamation point or a star next to them if there isn't. Put a number next to the item (1, 2, 3) if there is a specific order.
Not all tasks matter, so ask yourself often: Which of these tasks are important? Without a decision, you're risking getting overwhelmed and not starting on anything.ĭecide the order of tasks before you begin. You have to make a decision about what to work on first.ĭo you start at the top? The bottom? The middle? When your to-do list is longer than 1 item, you have a problem: How can you use this principle? How can you hide irrelevant to-dos and reminders of unfinished things from sight? This reduces visual clutter and boosts focus. To not get overwhelmed, he now uses a curtain to hide the part of the whiteboard that is not immediately relevant to what he wants to focus on. One look at them meant an immediate jolt of stress. He realized that seeing all those post-its just overwhelmed him. He had a whiteboard with 3 big clusters of post-it notes for his main projects. It takes effort just to block that visual noise out.īehavior scientist B J Fogg realized he had that problem. How are you supposed to focus if you have a hundred unfinished reminders in sight? You open your task manager and there's a list of 15 things to get done.Įach to-do item, post-it note, document, or open website in your field of vision is signalling to your brain: here's something unfinished. You turn on your computer, open the browser, and have 25 tabs open. You come to your desk and you see a visual avalanche of post-it notes. Say you have 3 projects you're working on. X 4 ways to make your to-do lists less overwhelming
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