How to Make A To-Do List

Just write down what you have to do; it’s right there in the name, right? But in order to make a useful to-do list, most people skip the second and third step.

ONE
The first step of course is to define what we’re working on. What is the task at hand?

TWO
Next, and maybe more importantly, we need to prioritize. What should be first? What is urgent? And what is most important? We often tell people in The Cave to start with the hardest, most important or challenging task first. The idea is that we tend to have the most focus and energy at the beginning of a work session or Cave. Additionally, having accomplished our most important task first, the rest of the day rides on the wave that feeling of accomplishment creates. To articulate this step even further, the intention is to align your tasks with your own rhythms. When we are the most alert and focused, we should schedule our most important work.

THREE
The third step is to define “finished.” Most of us are creative-minded and entrepreneurial. Our work will never completely end and there will always be something else to do. So in order to really feel good about our efforts, helping to define what finished looks like for this sprint, this Cave, this morning, or today can help us feel more accomplished and guilt-free when we close our computers. It might be quantified– 2 more pages of writing, 3 design options, 4 more resources to research, 5 job applications. It might be time-boxed– 20 minutes of monotasking, 30 minutes of meditation, 45 minute exercise.

It sounds obvious, but making a to-do list is more deceiving than its name indicates. Make a smarter to-do list by prioritizing and defining “finished” in order to improve that relationship to work.

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Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We write regular posts on Medium and send out monthly newsletters with productivity tips, life hacks, and recommendations. Sign up for the mailing list here.

Jake Kahana is a cofounder of Caveday. Sign up for his personal emails, called “The Email Refrigerator” here.