How to Organize a To-Do List

We all have to-do lists at home, at work, in the car and likely in places we can't even remember. Keeping track of what needs to be done can be quite a job, but simple organizational methods will help you prioritize your to-do list and check things off the list each week.

Instructions

1. Gather together all of your to-do lists, appointment cards and calendars that are lying around. Find a sufficient work space to collect and organize all the lists.

2. Create 6 separate piles for the following categories: yesterday, this week, this month, this quarter, this year and when I get to it. Divide all of your to-do items into these categories.

3. Go through the piles of to-do lists and write out the tasks on a single piece of paper for each category. Small bits of papers are bound to get lost. Be sure to write a due date next to each item on the list.

4. Label 6 file folders with the category names, and place your newly written to-do lists into the appropriate folders.

5. Put up a white board and write out your "Yesterday" and "This week" items. Place the board in a spot where you will see it multiple times each day.

6. Place the folders labeled "This month," "This quarter," "This year" and "When I get to it" in a file cabinet or desktop organizer. Choose a day that you will review your lists and stick to that day. Write this task on your to-do list for each week.

7. Mark every completed task off of your list as soon as you do it. This will give you some positive reinforcement and remind you what is still on the list.

Tips & Warnings

• As you move through each week, month and quarter, remember to move items onto the appropriate lists. Things for this month will move to this week, and things for this quarter will move to this month.

• You must review your lists weekly in order for this prioritizing to work. Chose a day and do it on the same day every week.

• Tell your secretary, partner and colleagues about the to-do lists. They will help remind you to stay on task.