Written by Samantha Yorke
Samantha Yorke is an assistant director and success coach for the Office of Undergraduate Student Success at NSU. She earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and her master of science degree in higher education from Florida State University. Samantha is a proud Floridian with a passion for empowering others.
To-do lists are not just for grocery shopping and event planning — they can be used for your daily routine inside and outside of the classroom. In order to maximize your to-do list, first consider the reasons for making one. Then, consider tips for perfecting one.
Why you should make a to-do list
Organization: Organizing a list of things to do can save hours from total execution time. This list not only assists with stress management, but helps you become more productive and on top of your daily work. If you find yourself forgetting what small tasks you need to get done in your day or what pages of your textbook you were supposed to read for homework, you may want to consider how writing these details down may promote success.
Improved memory: It’s impossible to remember every little thing you have to do at one time. Picking up a paper, taking your dog out for a walk, getting to the gym, attending class, making that late night meeting… talk about busy! Having everything written down assists you with remembering what comes next in the day and in what order they should be completed.
Productivity: If you prioritize the items on your to-do list, you will notice how much more you are achieving. You can become less distracted, for you know exactly what needs to occur next in your schedule. This may help you discover time that you did not even know you had, which can now be allotted to things you enjoy doing.
Motivation: To-do lists are often encouraged by motivational speakers — and, of course, the Office of Undergraduate Student Success at NSU. Having clear thoughts and specific tasks are not only encouraging and stress-relieving practices, but empowering and motivating!
How you should make your to-do list
Quality over quantity: Make sure the items going on your to-do list are substantial items — you don’t want to waste your time on dozens of small, low impact items without considering large, high-impact items. Although it may feel good crossing many things off of a list, it is important to remember why you are creating the list in the first place. Try to incorporate three, big daily goals.
Write it the night before: Writing a to-do list as you are scrambling to get ready in the morning defeats the purpose of the list in the first place. Take ten minutes out of your night to carve out some goals for the following day. This allows you to reflect on where you are at in life and what major occurrences are just around the corner.
Prioritize the biggest items first: If you don’t push yourself to complete the biggest items on your list first, you may find yourself looking to complete the little tasks instead. Empower yourself to focus on big tasks, like studying for finals or signing a major document, before reorganizing your closet or going on a shopping trip.
Now that you have the tools and tips, use them to build your to-do list tonight.
