All of us struggle with getting our jobs done, but many of us struggle with the stage before that, which is figuring out what to do or what needs to be done. And to figure out what needs to be done and when a to-do list becomes very useful as it helps us to do our work even in our monotonous routine.
Some people love getting
things organized and so they plan from beforehand by writing their unfinished
tasks in a list. The list acts as a sign of the commitment of work for certain
people and helps them to complete their unfinished task. To-do lists work as a
mini-goal list as it has a short period and mostly lasts up to a day.
Crossing items off from the
to-do lists can be quite satisfying and relaxing as you finish them and it
instills a sense of achievement in a person. In our hectic life and irregular
routine, a to-do list brings a balanced structure that helps us to get rid of
anxiety or any kind of stress.
When goals are unfinished
it puts pressure on our mind and reduces our work quality and researches show
that our mind performs better when we maintain a to-do list. And people who use
to-do lists procrastinate less than those who are used to more random or mental
to-do lists.
Zeigarnik Effect
When an individual
procrastinates less, they are seen to be more structured and organized in their
daily work and so they seem to finish it fast. People who maintain a to-do list
are more disciplined and dutiful and less impulsive and they are more
consistent in achieving something.
A To-do list sends a signal
to our brain that certain work is pending and it is important to finish them
before the deadline. The list makes us active and helps us to waste less of our
time in daydreaming. The conscious part of our brain kicks us to complete the
work because we’ll be under stress if it remains undone.
A psychologist named Bluma Zeigarnik was the first to study the importance of lists in depth.
Research
conducted by her in 1927 concluded that people will remember their unfinished
task more easily and any kind of interruptions during the task helped people to
remember the details of their tasks and this was regarded as the “Zeigarnik
Effect”.
Benefits of a to-do list:
- It creates an order: To-do list creates an orderly list of all the tasks that are needed to be done in a day. Tasks, plans, and projects get broken down, and then they’re given a time slot so that each of the tasks remains doable. A To-do list strategizes your mind by letting you complete all the tasks.
- Priorities: In a to-do list, people write the tasks that are important than the rest of the tasks and it helps one to choose their tasks properly and manage them effectively by giving priority to each of them.
- Organizing your time: When you maintain a to-do list, there will be less chance of you to waste any time and if by chance any of your tasks get canceled, then you can easily plan your free time.
- Accountability: When you write down your tasks, you are somewhere responsible and accountable to get it finished. You’ll plan now how to accomplish them so that there are no pending tasks.
- Feeling Productive: Once you finish your task mentioned in the list and strike them, you’ll feel that today you’ve been productive and so will be satisfied with yourself. It’ll make you feel that you are in control of your life.
- Reduces Stress: When you see yourself getting your tasks done, you get a sense of relief instantly. It relaxes your mind and tells you to take a break as you deserve it.
Try to always maintain two types of to-do lists, one for the long term and one for the short term. The short-term list is for those tasks that need to be done tomorrow and long-term lists are for those tasks that are scheduled for future days.
There is no rule that how the list should look, it all boils down to what is your routine and your tasks, it can be long or short. Making a to-do list is not a complex thing, just break down your tasks for that day and after you finish your assigned work, you’ll instantly feel better and relaxed.
Written by - Srijita Roy
Edited by - Rudransh Khurana
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