How to handle to-do lists

Warning: productivity post ahead.

One of the ways that I keep my life (fairly) organized is by using an app called Todoist.

At its core, the app is just a fancy way to organize my to-do lists, but it also allows me to remind myself what needs to be done on a recurring basis, whether its daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. You get the idea.

Of course, once I’ve completed those tasks, I get to use my big fat thumb to check it off the list. Oh, and in case you’re mistaking me for someone who is super organized and has it all together, I actually had “make a to-do list” on my to-do list for a few days before I could fat thumb that one off the list.

Now and then, I take a peek at that daily list and remove things from it, not because I no longer need to do them, but because I no longer need to be reminded to do them. For me, the list serves the purpose of habit building, not habit keeping, and so removing something from that list is a win because it means that action has become part of who I am and a natural part of my rhythms.

This is the same reason why “breathe” has never made it onto the list of things to do every day. Or eat. Or sleep. Again, you get the idea. Once habits have been formed, we need to change the way we maintain them.

The point is that it’s a waste of time and energy to track what we do naturally, so when a new action turns into a new habit, and you incorporate it into your rhythms, celebrate that win and turn your focus to the next action you want to tackle.

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