5 Ways to Simplify Your To Do List

We can all be slaves to the to do list. Sometimes I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel, constantly running trying to get things off the list, but more things keep getting added– and I keep running.

That said, usually if something gets on the list, it will have a better chance of getting accomplished. But I often have SO much on my to do list that inevitably some things sit on there for months and months.

Sound familiar?

Through my research for The Fringe Hours and my own life experiences, I have found the following habits help to simplify one’s to do list.

5 Ways To Simplify Your To Do List

1. Say no more: This can be a hard one, but saying no prevents things from ever getting on the to do list in the first place. Consider the following questions:

• Is this something I am passionate about?
• Do I really want to do this?
• Is this going to bring joy to my life?

If you can’t answer yes to those three questions, then you might need to say no. You never regret saying no, but you do sometimes regret saying yes. Furthermore, you will have less regrets and less items on your to do list by saying no.

2. Auto-pay bills: This is such an easy one! Set up auto-pay for as many bills as possible. Doing so eliminates the stress of, oh I have to get that bill paid and you can turn your attention to other priorities. Setting up auto-pay for most of our home’s finances has been a game changer for us.

This might be seem like a little thing, but streamlining and automating as much as possible makes things easier and less busy.

3. Stop comparing: Comparison steals joy and adds things to your life that you don’t need. Many times we will fall into the trap of seeing what someone else is doing and then think we need to do the same thing.

When you stop looking around at how everyone else is doing life and focus on your own needs and passions, your to do list doesn’t become filled with other people’s tasks.

4. Consider the need to do vs. the nice to do: Too often we become bogged down with tasks that are “nice to do” but are not necessities. Stop focusing on those tasks. What do you truly NEED to do? Prioritize those projects and tasks. The nice to dos can wait. (And often, the nice to dos are things that got added because of comparison — see point three!)

It is important to mention that practicing self-care and pursuing your passions is a need to do, not a nice to do. We need to take care of ourselves and these practices should be prioritized. (For more on this pick up my books The Fringe Hours and/or My Fringe Hours.)

5. Schedule deliveries of commonly used household items: Eliminating trips to the store for things like glass cleaner and toilet paper gives you more time and one less thing on your to do list. Our family uses (and loves!) ePantry because their prices are cheaper than big box stores, their customer service is phenomenal and I can have everything we need for our home sent right to our door. Some of the things we buy from ePantry includes surface cleaner, hand soap, body wash, lotion, skincare products, vitamins, paper towel, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, diapers, wipes and candles.

How do you simplify your to do list?