To-do lists are great because they force you to assess your workload and prioritize accordingly. But there’s often so much on your to-do list that it can be hard to figure out where to start. Here are three ways you can get more done with your to-do list by prioritizing the items on it with greater accuracy.
The 1-3-5 Rule
There are a number of ways you can prioritize your tasks in order of importance. Simply, break your list into three categories: the top five tasks that will have the most impact on your success, the next three tasks that are important but not urgent, and then all other tasks. This way you can focus on what’s really most important first (the top five) before getting sidetracked by less pressing work.
The Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management technique that divides your tasks into four categories: Urgent and important, urgent but not important, not urgent but important, and neither. Work on the items in category 1 because they are both urgent and important. Then move on to category 2 or 3 depending on which one has the least amount of items remaining in it. If there are still things left from category 1 or 2 then it’s best to go back to them before starting something new from category 3 or 4.
The Pomodoro Technique
This technique is a time management strategy that breaks down work into intervals called Pomodoro, which are typically 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. The technique is based on the idea that frequent breaks can improve mental agility. After each Pomodoro, a short break (usually 3–5 minutes) is taken before resuming work. The process is repeated throughout the day until the task list is complete.
