5 minutes to a productive day

The best way to make the most out of your day is to start it off right. Something I do that takes less than 5 minutes is make a list. I figure out all the tasks that I need to do throughout the day so that I have a clear idea of what I can accomplish. I know that this isn't earth-shattering news, but I thought it might be useful to share how I make my list.

Making the list

• Write down (or type out) your list — The list has to exist outside your mind. Your brain will get cluttered throughout the day and you’re likely going to forget something.
• Add everything (even quick, small tasks) — Write everything down. Everything. Whether it’s work related or not. This gives you visibility and ensures that you don’t forget anything. Small tasks are easily checked off (which is great for motivation) and gives you something to do if you have a few minutes of down time.
• Break it down — If there is a large task that will take up most of your day, try to break it down into smaller tasks. This makes the larger task more manageable.
• Don’t worry about order or importance yet — Write things down as they come to mind and don’t worry about putting it in a logical order just yet.

So you have this list

• Give time estimates — Beside each task, write down a rough estimate of how much time it requires. This gives you an idea of how much you can realistically get done during the day.
• OR assign a time — Another way is to assign a specific amount of time to each task. Work on the task for the assigned time and move on once the time is up.
• Now order the list — Order the list based on your priorities, the time you have available, and the time you need to finish the task.
• Buffer time — Allow for some buffer time in your day for new or unexpected tasks that come in.

Check ‘em off!

• Start with a small task — Starting off your day with a small task will get the ball rolling. Even if this task isn't the most important, if it will take less than 10 minutes to do, then check it off. This is great for motivation!
• Check off tasks as you finish them — This is great for motivation and gives you a visual of your progress.
• Stay within the assigned time — Try as best you can to stick with the time you assigned to each task. If a task suddenly requires more time and can’t be postponed, then re-evaluate your list.

Last thoughts

• This list will be dynamic — You will likely remember things throughout the day that you forgot to add to the list. That’s okay, just add them as you remember them and take a moment to see where they fit.
• Focus on what is done — At the end of the day, you might find that you haven’t finished all your tasks. That’s okay, things happen. Focus on what you got done during the day, instead of what you didn't get done. Also, you probably got more done than if you hadn't made the list!
• You will get better with time — As you get used to making these lists, you will be more accurate. You’ll get better at estimating required times for tasks, prioritizing your list, and therefore completing your list.
• Start each day fresh — Start each day with a new list. You can use the unfinished tasks from the previous day as a start, but make a new list.

If you use a list to plan out your day, let me know how it works for you and what you do differently!