To-do lists can nag you or make you crazy. There are many ways to handle them, including making a list and assigning a priority number to each one, and keeping a list connected to your computer or cell phone that rings as a reminder. Neither of these works for me, as I want something really, really simple in a to-do list. While both my computer and iPhone have task lists, I use paper lists. They are portable, easily retrievable without waiting or sorting, and I can see everything at once, not on a screen.
Here are two ways to use a to-do list. Both involve 3 x 5 index cards, or 4 x 6 cards if you write big. (I turn the cards and work on them portrait-orientation.) I work on several projects at a time, so I use one card per project. Each project's name is written on the top of the card, and the to-do list underneath. When I complete an item, I cross it off so that I can read it, and put the completion date on the left side. That way I know what I completed and when.
This method lets you put all the project to-do lists next to each other and see how much work you have and which project needs to take priority. When you have a lot of projects going at the same time, it's wonderful to be able to re-arrange cards to switch priorities, without re-writing any of the cards.
When you get involved in many projects, assign one color to each project, and color code the cards to match the project. (You can also use different color cards.) Color coding gives an overview and helps you draw conclusions faster. ("A lot of blue cards, do I need to farm some of this out?" "The yellow project is due in a week. Why so few yellow cards? Am I done early, or is there something missing?")
Then there is the worry list/to-do list. If you wake up at night, unable to sleep and start worrying, make a list of things you are worrying about. Having written down the worries, you can go back to sleep. The next morning, tackle the things that need to be done.
The last to-do list is called the tag-cloud to do list. Use the same method as tag clouds–the more important a task, the bigger your handwriting. If you don't want to get involved with increasing the size of your handwriting, simply draw a box around each item on the list. The bigger the box, the more important (or worrisome, or pressing) the item. That gives you two facts at once: the item and the importance, all in one glance.
You can use a mix of these methods. Color-coding works with tag-clouding very well. Tag-clouding works with worry-list well, too. And no matter what method I choose, writing down all the things that need to get done helps me free up more memory cells.
And now, you AND your to-do list are multi-tasking.
About the Author: Quinn McDonald is a writer and nationally-known speaker who has achieved the "Professional" designation from the National Speakers Association. Contact Quinn through her website, QuinnCreative.com.