Conquer your to-do list overwhelm by wiping it into oblivion

Ready to put an end to the noxious tyranny of your neverending to-do lists?

Get out your smartphone and delete your to-do app. Seriously.

Todoist, Wunderlist, even Evernote. Whatever digital demon controls your life has to go. (Okay, maybe not Evernote)

I know that’s what you’re thinking. I can’t just delete my to-do list.

Really? Let’s be honest, you keep adding to your list of to-dos wishing that stuff would just get done, but it keeps piling up day after day. Every time you take out your smartphone your to-do list notification makes you want to reach for that bottle of wine.

I get it. You really want to get those things done; they are important. But how?

I have tried all the bajillion apps on iTunes to help me get my s**t done, but none of them worked for me. It was only after deleting those stupid apps that I was finally able to take action on my list of to-dos.

Trust me, the sense of relief when starting from a blank slate is as close to productivity nirvana as you can get.

But if there is no to-do list, how do I know what to do? Well, here is the solution:

The Dry Erase board: a groundbreaking innovation in the realm of to-dos

Okay, enough sass. Let’s get down to business.

First of all, you need to wrest back control of your to-do list. If you’ve tried to and failed, maybe this post will help show you how. It’s only after you learn to write the most effective tasks that you can unlock the power of a to-do list.

But using an app can cripple the real power of the to-do list.

The problem with the app is that it lives on your phone. Yes, we are all glued to it all day long, but between emails, Facebook, YouTube, and all the blogs I read, there are so many interesting things clamoring for my attention that the to-do list gets ignored.

It’s only when I catch that notification with the corner of my eye that I get that sinking feeling in my stomach.

That’s where the physical, in-your-face, dry erase board trumps the app. You just can not ignore this big ugly piece of plastic staring you in the face.

All your tasks are right there, glaring at you. Instead of feeling like you aren’t getting anything done, you know exactly what you are not getting done. More importantly, you know what needs to get done (instead of scrolling through your Facebook feed) to get rid of the anxiety.

The pen is mightier than the sword your finger

There is a ton of research that says writing things down physically is better for retention. If that’s true, then writing stuff down on your dry erase board would make it more memorable than using the miniscule keyboard (with that annoying autocorrect feature).

But I don’t care about research (and neither should you).

All I know is there doesn’t exist a single app that will help me mark out the number of pomodoros I complete per task.

Writing those tasks down on the board helps me remember what they are better, and crossing off pomodoros helps me get a sense of progress as I make my way through the day.

The simple act of crossing off those tiny boxes makes me feel like a winner because I know I am moving closer to completing the task. And as delightful as it is to tap that teeny weeny button that says “completed”, striking the task out with a fat marker takes the cake. Every single time.

The board is bigger than the screen

Duh, right?

There’s a reason that smartphone screens have been getting bigger year after year. One can never have too much screen space. When it specifically comes down to to-do list, and my personal gripe with them, even the ginormous iPad Pro can not hold a candle to the magnificent dry erase board.

The dry erase board is far easier (and satisfying) to write on, but more importantly, it gives me the freedom to write wherever I want. Literally. It helps me put every single aspect of my daily life on the board. Take a look.

For example, I like to put my time-outs and meals on my daily to-do list because I forget to rest and eat when I’m working. Putting it on the board helps me keep track of all those tiny, but important things during the workday.

Having the self-care items on the same page as my other to-do list items ensures that I don’t end up ignoring them. If you are like me and tend to ignore self-care, you should put them on your to-do list too. Trust me, it’s not fun getting burned out by letting your work take over your life

Bright sunshine and a clean slate to start the day

This brings me to the best and my favorite part of using a dry erase board to write down my daily to-do list.

I can wipe it completely clean.

One swipe of a Kleenex and all those pesky unfinished to-dos are gone. All that remains (apart from the ink stain on my Kleenex) is the shiny clean surface, waiting for me to start afresh.

That is why I like to clean my board every night, even if haven’t managed to cross off every item on the list (If it’s important enough, I will write it on the board next morning). The simple act of wiping out the entire list of to-dos brings rewards me with a sense of accomplishment. It grants me the freedom to start the next day without any leftover baggage.

Instead of my to-do list ruling my life, I rule over my to-do list with an iron fist because I use a dry erase board. Can you say the same of your smartphone?

Let your to-do list fight for you, not against you

Putting in a few good hours of productive work makes you feel like you can conquer the world, doesn’t it? And every conqueror worth her salt needs a good general, right?

That is why we use those hideous to-do lists.

But what good is it if nothing gets done at the end of the day? If your to-do list is not helping you conquer your world, then you can be sure it is plotting to drown you in a sea of overwhelm.

Instead of using a to-do list app (or even a notebook), try using a dry erase board. More space, more freedom, less anxiety, and you’ll never have to worry about it getting lost or stolen.

It’s time to hire a new general and conquer the world.

Come on, let’s get that s**t done.

 

Want to know how you can set goals that are meaningful to you, check items off your to-do list, and gradually move toward realizing those big dreams? Check out my Reclaim Your Life course.