HATE to do lists? It doesn't have to be that way

Do you use a similar system?

I have given up on to do lists, and now come at things from the opposite direction. In the evening I will list the productive things I have done that day in a journal, that slight sense of achievement is enough to make me want to do things so I can add them to my list

Sending a card has haunted me since childhood, ohh the shame of not being able to do it. Thank you for clarifying I may write it down

My great-aunt had a lot of family and friends and she was active in the church, and she never missed a birthday, and one of her secrets is that she DID have a card stash. She made a kit (with a calendar, cards, stamps and a pen) for birthdays, and I think sometimes she filled them out ahead of time. Like an assembly-line task, so that all that had to be done was make sure the card was addressed and put in the box. It turns out I have no desire to be as socially active as she was, but I have adopted “The Kit” for the most important people in my life. If you decide sending cards is important to you (and it may not be) I highly recommend this.

This was so relevant to me. I used to have a manager who thought every task was urgent. I told her that when everything is urgent, nothing is urgent. I no longer work for her 😂😂😂

And I wonder how many people spot the deliberate (cough cough) error! 🤔

"Is everything just meaningless bullshit?" Asking the real questions here!

To-do lists make me depressed. I've tried several of the options you mentioned, and none of them really work. I have a list of shows I want to watch - so as not to forget they exist - and even that one makes me resent the items on it, even though everything on there is fun. One thing I did recently is focus on one thing and throw out everything else. Not perfect, obviously, but at least it let me accomplish this one thing. To-do lists and I don't really mix.

I'm really happy with my to-do list strategy: I only put one thing in it! And then I do it (at some point). I don't care how important or mundane it is, or if it's something quick that turns into a mountain.

Thank you! Finally someone that understand that lists and lists of chore are too much! I feel so overwhelmed all the time when I try to plan things that I simply give up and do absolutely nothing. And yes, "simple" task like grocery shopping or paying a bill are so much more complicated than what it seems! And nobody understand it and it frustrates me. I still haven't found the right method for me. Unfortunately even this one doesn't help me because even if I know that is rewarding or that it only takes five minutes the chance I actually do it is really small. But I will find a method that works for me... someday! Thank you for your video they are really helpfull, even if only to remind you that you are not alone, that other people think and feel the same!

I've been a list-aholic for most of my life and couldn't have coped without but never really found a list system that felt *right*. This has given me much food for thought. I'm a very late diagnosed person (67 earlier this year) and it's been very useful in explaining my whole life and all my difficulties! Now instead of wondering about why I feel like I do, I now know :) This system is something that sounds logical to me and similar to some of the ways I've organised my lists in the past but it's more succinct! The only real problem is defining a 5 minute task as I can't estimate time but I can differentiate roughly between a long and short task :) So thanks :)

I needed this. Right after I saw this I divvied up my to-dos like this, but I also added a fifth category for "I don't have the resources for this due to COVID" soooo... 😸

Thank you! I really struggle with getting even the simplest of tasks done, and nobody seems to understand. Will certainly try this method! :D

I can't believe you used the example of the wedding card! It just took me a month to send my friend his wedding card, mailed it off last Friday. I am feeling so validated and relieved to not be alone, thankyou for sharing your experiences it means so so much to relate to someone over these things 💛

Totally relate! I bounce between being overwhelmed or hyperfocusing on stuff. (usually the wrong stuff!) My first proper video was on using a Kanban cart to do my to do lists - with the 5 minute tasks I use smaller stickers, or group them together on a big sticker (which, to be fair can then make them feel like one big task!) and you can also put sticky notes on top of each other to map out the steps of a task (i.e., so once I'd written a birthday card, you take off that sticky to remind you to write the address on it).

The to do list when used for my creative projects seems to destroy the creativity!

I tried this! Suddenly things like Yoga session and reading became more rewarding and enjoyable instead of just another thing on my to-do list that I have to get done. I didn't realize how much I hated to-do list system before this.

Omg, thank you! I struggle everyday to complete a task, and it even is a number one struggle for me to work. I've been dropping every job over and over again, because I always feel like a slave, and it's too much pressure to be bossed around by someone. I'll try this list thing starting with easy tasks around the house with which I struggle on a daily basis.

The problems with lists, for me, is actually looking at them lol I can make as many lists as I want, but I won't actually look at them, so it's completely pointless. I'm still trying it figure it out.

Starting this immediately! To-Do lists ALWAYS become overwhelming for me, specifically because they’ll seem to demand daunting, unrealistic amounts of effort and time. Here’s to hoping!