Yes some people love lists, others don't - they lose them or find that they don't help. However by using a to do list you may find can assist you in time management and organising the activities you need to carry out. It can also help by ensuring that you don't forget something you need to do because you suddenly become under pressure or maybe running late.
Lists can give people more incentive to "get on" and get tasks completed, particularly if the task is not so likable and favourable. Using To Do lists can also give people satisfaction and a sense of achievement when they have completed a task and are able to cross it off their list. The more you achieve in your day and the more tasks you see getting crossed off your list, the greater the sense of achievement that can be felt and hopefully the benefit of this, as well, is that you have completed your tasks in a much more timely, efficient manner and have created a little extra spare time for yourself. This is the goal of good time management. However, be careful how you use this spare time, don't waste it.
To make To Do lists work more effectively, it is best not to write them on scrappy pieces of paper. Instead the use of a small notebook - whatever size suits you best - some people don't like them too small so they lose them and can't find them in their handbag, but for you maybe it needs to be small enough to fit inside your inside jacket pocket. You will want to find the best size which is going to work for you. It is best to have your To Do List at hand, during the whole day, so you can keep check on it and update it as you go along. You may find that during the completion of one task you may need to add another task, not necessarily for that day, but it is important that this task gets written down and added to your list so you can plan it in for future days to come and not rely on your memory remembering.
Make sure that your list or book does not have perforated edges or margins so that it can get torn and pulled out before you have finished with it. Every day you will need to write a new list for that day's activities. You may find that you want to rewrite your list every evening or first thing in the morning. It really doesn't matter when, as long as you find a quiet time for you to concentrate on your list and make the plan for that day. When rewriting your new list, ensure that any tasks that you didn't get completed that day or previous day are carried forward and added to your new list. By ensuring you do this, it will help you and keep check that you do not forget anything and at the end of the day, that is what lists are all about.
When writing your daily list, it is important that you indicate and schedule your tasks in accordance with their urgency and priority. The best way is to list them is in order, with the most important tasks at the top, however for your time management you can write them in any order and number them accordingly to which ones need to be prioritised and completed first.
It is also a good idea to complete your longer or more difficult tasks at the time of the day that suits you best. For some people, this could be first thing in the morning or after the school run or after lunch. Please remember that everyone's lives are very different and so not necessarily will one time be the best time for everyone, particularly if you work different shift patterns including nights. It can be easier to find time to complete the smaller, simpler tasks if the larger or more difficult or time consuming tasks have been completed first rather than the other way around. Again for good time management, this is why it is best to complete these larger tasks at a time when you are at your best, most focused and have more energy as they will then normally take you less time.
Lists can be a great asset tool and a good way for people to manage their time more effectively and get the most out of their day. Some people find that using lists can help them find some spare time and make their life more balanced between work, family and looking after the home.
