If you’re reading this, you probably know how it feels to wake up in the morning and already have too much to do. That overwhelming feeling that there are never enough hours in the day. You’re always busy, and yet somehow you still aren’t making progress towards your goals.

It sucks to feel like you aren’t in control of your time.

It sucks to not have time to take care of yourself because you’re so busy taking care of others.

And it really freaking sucks to feel like you have been so overwhelmed for so long that you don’t even know where to begin digging yourself back out.

I hear you.

Now pause and take a deep breath with me - because I promise you there’s a solution.

If you are staring at a to-do list that’s longer than a CVS receipt, it’s time to call in some reinforcements.

Let’s go…

Why Your List Isn’t Working

So you’re making a to-do list for your day, and chances are it looks something like this:

Return calls and messages
Plan next Tuesday’s project launch
Meeting at 4pm
Order groceries
Pickup birthday party decorations
Check on this, do that, don’t forget about the other thing…

First, if you’ve made it here – go you for writing everything out!

Seriously, the last thing we want to do is keep everything in our head.

I like to call this braindumping, and while it’s not the sexiest of terms, holy guacamole is it helpful!

Braindumping – say what now?

Braindumping means that you simply write everything you’ve been keeping in⁣⁣ your head, down on paper. ⁣⁣

Lists, chores, errands, projects, all of it!⁣⁣

When we write it all down, not only are we guaranteeing we won’t forget⁣ anything, we are also freeing our minds to relax and think at a higher level (more on this later.)

So while making these lists is productive, we also want to make sure that this braindump monster list we create doesn’t become the list we look at to try and be productive each day.

Why You Should Have More Than 1 List

Do you ever notice how this braindump idea list is a just, well, kind of a mess?

You’ve got business tasks mixed in with buy milk, and perhaps an idea for a project you want to work on next week (or next month).

Plus these lists tend to continue growing on a daily basis too anytime you think of something new to write down.

It’s great that you’re getting all these thoughts out of your head and down on paper, but using this list as you daily to-do list will only create more chaos and disorder. Which, let’s be honest, is the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish here.

Introducing Action Lists – AKA Your New Best Friend

Action lists are the best.

These lists are short & concise and contain ONLY the things you want to (and can) get done in one day.

⁣⁣So rather than feeling completely overwhelmed looking at an impossible list of 20 items, you are able to focus only on the things that really matter that day, and ignore the rest until another time. ⁣⁣

↑ See the difference there?

How To Implement All This Goodness

Now, you’re probably asking – what’s the easiest way to start implementing this new habit?

First, keep your ongoing braindump of ideas, projects, and tasks. This is going to be your catch all space to get things out of your head and down on paper. (insert cute planner or project management tool here)

Each morning review your braindump, and make a small list of the items you want to accomplish that day.

My rule of thumb is no more than 7 tasks max each day.

“BUT RACHAEL - I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO DO!”

Listen, I hear you.

But we have to remember, there are so many outside factors we can’t control, and things tend to pop up in our day that we just need to handle.

So, if you give yourself 20 things to do today, but your work, and kids, and 5 other people need something from you, chances are those 20 things aren’t going to get checked off in one day. It’s simply too much, and you are setting yourself up to feel unaccomplished.

By creating a short, manageable list you can accomplish each day, you will actually start to make progress!

The last thing we want is to create a schedule so jam packed, that a simple unplanned phone call throws your whole day out of wack.

Plus, how AMAZING does it feel when you actually cross everything off your list that day? ⁣⁣

What If I Run Out of Time?

Did your day get a little crazy and you didn’t accomplish everything you planned to work on? That’s alright, it happens to all of us.

Simply move any open tasks to the top of your list tomorrow, and start with those things first! This way things won’t get lost in the shuffle, and you are still finishing tasks before going back to the braindump for a new project.

Make sense?