To-Do Lists!
The Art of Feeling Productive Without Actually Doing Anything
Let’s be real, making a to-do list feels like a productivity win all by itself. It’s like tricking our brain into believing that we’ve already done the work just by writing it down.
Step 1: Write down everything you need to do.
Step 2: Admire the list. Feel organized. Feel unstoppable.
Step 3: Close the notebook. Never look at it again.
And yet, we keep making them.
The Science of To-Do Lists (or Why We Love Lying to Ourselves)
There’s something about writing things down. You could be drowning in work, but the moment you put it on paper or in your Notes app, it suddenly feels manageable.
It’s like our brain says, Ah yes, the tasks are now contained. We are safe.
But the funny part is, the harder the task, the more satisfying it is to write it down.
Start gym. (As if writing it will make me actually go.)
Wake up at 5 AM. (Hilarious.)
Work on that thing I’ve been procrastinating for two weeks. (LOL, sure.)
Somehow, we convince ourselves that thinking about the work is the same as doing it. And that’s where the chaos begins.
The Cycle of To-Do List Guilt
Fast forward to the end of the day yet the to-do list is untouched.
Now, the guilt kicks in. But instead of fixing the problem, we tell ourselves that:
Maybe I need a better to-do list system.
Maybe if I color-code it, I’ll be more productive.
Maybe I need a new planner…
And just like that, instead of doing the actual work, we spend two hours watching aesthetic bullet journal setup videos on YouTube. Productivity at its finest.
So, Do To-Do Lists Actually Work?
They do, but only if we actually follow them. (Crazy, I know.)
A good to-do list isn’t just a wishlist for our future self rather a commitment. So instead of dumping everything into one never-ending list, try this:
Keep it short (3-5 important tasks, max).
Be specific (Instead of work on project, write finish first draft of project by 6 PM).
Don’t just plan, schedule (Block time for each task instead of hoping you’ll actually feel like doing it).
Will this turn you into the most productive person alive? Probably not. But will it help you actually get things done instead of just thinking about them? Maybe.
Now excuse me while I go update my own to-do list… and then ignore it completely.
Take care,
Stupid Students!
P.S. If you have a love-hate relationship with to-do lists, hit reply and tell me your best procrastination story. I promise I’ll read it (instead of doing my actual work).
Youtube Recommendation
Here’s a beautiful video by @ColtKirwan
See you soon!