Productivity: Beyond the “To-Do” List
When asked how people organize their day to be productive and get things done, most will tell you: I have a to-do list, and I try to complete everything on it.
Sounds good, right? But here’s the tricky part: a small daily list can already be a dangerous recipe for burnout. 🤫
Because the real key to productivity isn’t just writing tasks down. It’s about knowing your estimates.
Being able to estimate how long your tasks will take makes a huge difference.
It helps you create realistic to-do lists. 🗓️
It shows you when it’s time to postpone a project, renegotiate a deadline with a client, or even say no from the very beginning.
A Simple Example
It’s Monday morning. You’re motivated. You want to:
write a blog
answer your emails
finish a presentation for a meeting
do your time tracking for the month
Sounds manageable. But as the day goes on, you might start feeling overwhelmed.
Now let’s look at it in more detail and see why we feel that way:
Write a blog: 1 hour
Answer emails: 1 hour
Finish presentation: 2 hours
Time tracking: 30 minutes
That’s already 4.5 hours. Add breaks, add unexpected interruptions—and suddenly the “easy list” feels impossible.
What This Practice Shows You
Be realistic. Not everything is urgent. Some tasks can wait until tomorrow.
You’ll see where your distractions come in (yes, scrolling on your phone counts).
If you don’t have many distractions and control procrastination, but still have no time to manage all the tasks, it’s a clear sign that you have “too much on your plate” and need to split tasks.
Why Estimates Are Powerful
If you realize that your day simply doesn’t allow for everything, you have proof. 🤓
With clear estimates, you can renegotiate deadlines with your boss or your clients without feeling guilty. It’s not “just you”; you have it written down. Black on white. You need to reschedule.
Final Thoughts
I hope this tip helps you master your to-do list, work with more clarity, and most importantly, prevent burnout. 🙌😌
Stay tuned for the next blog, where we’ll dive into urgency and prioritization of tasks.
Claudia 🥰