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I love to-do lists. There is something about checking off a task that brings me genuine happiness. So I have been making them for a very long time. But for years, my system was a mess. I had multiple lists — one for home, one for the office, one for personal errands. They were scattered everywhere: on the fridge, on my laptop, on the kitchen table. And yet, at the end of most days, one of two things would happen. Either I would forget something on one of the lists, or I would do everything on every list and still feel completely unproductive. That feeling pushed me to change how I approach a to-do list entirely — and the three changes I made are what I want to share with you now.
Change 1: Stop using multiple lists — use one
The first thing I changed was consolidating everything into a single list. Work tasks, personal errands, anything and everything that needs to happen in a day goes on one piece of paper. That is the only thing I need to refer to as I move through my day. Having separate lists for separate areas of your life sounds organised, but in practice it just means things fall through the cracks. One consolidated list, with clear categories built into it, solves that problem without mixing everything up.
Change 2: Prioritise using four categories
The second change was building prioritisation directly into the format of the list itself. Rather than writing tasks in whatever order they come to mind, I use four distinct categories.
Most Important — one task only
At the top of my list there is space for just one task: the single most important thing I need to do that day. This is the task that will add the maximum value to my day. I focus on completing this before anything else.
High Priority — up to three tasks
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Book a Mock InterviewOnce the most important task is done, I move to the high priority category. Here I list around three things, written in order of their importance, and I work through them in that order.
Medium Priority — two or three tasks
Next comes medium priority — usually two or three items. Some days I skip this category altogether if the day is particularly full. But when I do get through it, I know I have had a genuinely productive day.
Additional Tasks — the mundane, repeatable things
At the bottom sit the additional tasks. These are usually mundane, repetitive, or personal items that need doing but are not time-critical. If you run out of time, these are the ones you can push to later in the day or move to tomorrow without consequences.
Change 3: Match your tasks to your energy levels
The third change is really the one that made my days feel noticeably less stressful. The structure above is not just about importance — it is also about when you do things. I tackle the important and difficult tasks earlier in the day, when my energy is high, my willpower is strong, and my patience is at its best. I leave the easier, less critical things for later in the day, when all three of those resources are naturally lower. When you sync your task order to your energy levels like this, your day becomes progressively less demanding rather than progressively more overwhelming. No more spending long hours on busy, unproductive work and feeling like you have nothing to show for it.
Try it and see the difference
These three changes — one consolidated list, a prioritised four-category format, and matching tasks to your energy — are simple on paper but make a real difference when you put them into practice. Give it a try for a week and see how your days feel. If you have questions, you are always welcome to reach out to me on Instagram or by email.
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