Managing that to-do list and how to ensure you eat your frog!

Hints and tips for writing a decent to do list and actually getting stuff done!

1. Find your happy place!

I think it is really important to have somewhere that you like to keep your notes. It could be just old-fashioned pen and paper; I personally love a notebook. But in this day and age, and with modern technology we don’t always carry a notebook, do we! Our phones tend to be the one thing we always carry with us. Other options are Google Keep, One Note, and Evernote. All are available as apps that will record on both phone and computer.

My one tip is that you find what works for you, and make sure it is a place that you don’t avoid using. So, if you find the apps/online forms too tricky and you want to avoid them, then the good old pen and paper will be for you. But if you don’t like to carry around a Mary Poppins like bag at all times, then maybe one of the online apps is best.

2. Putting your Frog at the top of the list!

Your Frog is that one thing on your to-do list that always ends up jumping from one day to another. I was once told to eat my frog and get that one thing done as it would mean that I was ruling my day, and not allowing my day to rule me! By putting your frog at the top of the list and eating it, you’re always achieving something during any day.

3. Keep it simple!

Rome wasn’t built in a day, so there is no way that you are going to be able to tick all of your to-dos off in one day and on from one list. So, keep it simple. Whilst I think it is a good idea to have an idea of the wider to-do list, my advice is to keep that separate from the one you work from each day. Having a simple to-do list will help deal with that overwhelming feeling. Keep your frog at the top and then 2-3 other items. That way, you will feel like you are winning at the end of the day!

4. Write it well!

Writing a good to-do list requires some detail and clarity on what you need to achieve. For example, simply just saying what you need to do, “Pay Bills”, allows for procrastination, but when you write down what you actually need to do along with the action, you have a clear plan. “Pay Gas bill – go to Octopus email and update meter reading and process payment.”

The clearer an item is on your to-do list the more likely you are to action it.

5. Plan your time!

Take a look at your to-do list and firstly, make sure your frog is on there but also make sure that the items on your list are a good use of your time. If paying your gas bill can wait but paying your parking fine can’t, then you know what can be lower priority on your to-do list.

6. And finally – be kind to yourself!

If that frog keeps jumping or if you only manage to tick one thing, that's ok! Be kind to yourself, get some fresh air and know that there is always tomorrow to deal with your to-do list.