We work more effectively thanks to to-do-lists, why?
Studies have shown that people work better when they write down what they need to do. What makes to-do-list such an effective productivity tool?
Do you always feel overwhelmed with the "huge" amount of work?
Frequently late for deadlines and goldfish brain?
Do people have to proactively ask you questions to keep up with work progress?
If you often encounter similar situations, congratulations, you belong to the group of more than 90% of the population! Goldfish brain and "forget first and forget later" sounds bad, but luckily thanks to human work experience over time, we have learned how to manage time optimally. One of those "inventions" is the to-do-list. Simply put, it is a tool that helps us organise and review our work.
To-do list frees the brain from the piles of tasks piling up
Have you ever been in a situation where you had a very urgent proposal that needed to be presented to a customer tomorrow, then suddenly your boss called you in for a meeting about a new project about to be implemented. And throughout that entire meeting, you can't concentrate and feel nervous and restless.
Unfulfilled goals and tasks will always creep into our thoughts. This seems quite emotional at first glance, but if you are holding ten different projects, the story is completely different.
In 2011, a study by professors Baumeister and Masicampo from Wake Forest University showed that, although unresolved tasks distract us, simply planning to complete them can free us from insecurity. The pair observed that people performed a task less effectively when they were unable to complete the warm-up activity that preceded it. However, when participants were allowed to make and record specific plans for the warm-up activity, performance on the subsequent task improved significantly.
Mission system and their control
Imagine you are planning your wedding. In addition to the party event taking place on the official day, there are many small steps such as designing cards, preparing gifts, taking photos, preparing wedding flowers, etc. Being surrounded by common tasks makes us not know what to do or where to start
Therefore, it is necessary to divide small tasks into days, for example, the first day will be to take wedding photos, the second day will be to write cards and send them to friends, the next day will be to review the main program script, ... At this point you can estimate the number of tasks that need to be completed, from there you will arrange your work time and personal life to best prepare for the important event of your life.
Psychologist and author, Dr. David Cohen, believes that to-do-lists make his life more organised and tidy. Cohen loves making to-do lists because they help reduce anxiety about chaos while also building a concrete plan he can follow. And most importantly, they help the psychologist keep statistics about what he has achieved that day, week or month.
Refreshment when completing a task
If you are a to-do-list person, you surely understand the feeling of happiness when you have completed your completed tasks.
When we complete personal tasks, the brain releases dopamine, creating a feeling of happiness, joy and excitement. This also explains why we should divide the plan into small tasks. Each time you complete a task, dopamine will encourage and motivate you to continue racing for the projects behind. This is quite true with exercise. Instead of declaring "I will try to exercise hard next month", try breaking down tasks by week, for example "This week I will exercise 3 times/week". This method will definitely bring discipline and self-discipline, as well as an unexpected feeling of excitement!
