Goal setting is very useful when it comes to structuring your life. Setting goals will help you accomplish tasks which will undoubtedly make you feel successful and on top of your life. Often, people use to-do lists to manage these small goals and it is a useful way of keeping track of all your tasks. Nevertheless, to-do lists are often never ending; you add a task, cross it off, but remember another and add another until you realize how endless your list is. Eventually you will have more things on your list than you are capable of crossing off. So, if not handled well, to-do lists can in the long-run contribute to a source of stress and act as a constant reminder of the hundreds of things you must complete through your daily life.
Recently, I have gathered a few tips on to-do list making which have made to-do lists more manageable for me. Here they are:
1. Break down to-do lists into smaller sub-lists.
For instance, you can make separate lists for school assignments, shopping, bills you have to pay, and even a list for people to grab coffee with. Color coordinating sub-lists can help you visually organize your priorities, and because there are not too many colors you can use, you will end up with a few important sub-lists.
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Moreover, within these sub-lists, it is efficient to set a priority order to see which lists you must complete first and which lists you can rely on to put off your work but still get things done. This helped me organize my life better as I was able to complete tasks but also work on easier yet productive tasks if I lost motivation.
2. Make a done list.
Believe it or not, seeing all the tasks you have completed will make you feel accomplished and have more motivation to tackle other difficult tasks. The list does not have to be as visible as your to-do list, but it can be something you can refer to when you are losing focus and feeling stressed by all the tasks. Having a ‘done’ list will help you appreciate the effort you have put into previous tasks and thus can act as a reminder of how much more you can work.
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3. Set a due date for each task and plan a reward.
For instance, you could schedule a date with your friends or treat yourself to a nice dessert or vacation. Even if it is not a major reward, setting these rewards in advance will provide you with an incentive to work for the goal.
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As university students we are given freedom, which tends to be spent on sleep or doing nothing. Take some time to ask yourself: What could I do with the same extra hours?
I recommend for you to take this opportunity to set a goal and structure your life. Remember that even just a little goal can guide you to a better future!
Thanks for reading!