Do ‘To-Do’ Lists Really Accomplish Anything?
My poor husband. It's not like Jay had no idea what he was getting into before marrying me because we'd known each other for years, but I bet he never thought he'd marry someone as obsessed with making to-do lists as I am.
In my defense, Jay and I work opposite shifts and so we only see each other for about 15 minutes each day, which makes communication difficult and lists are necessary. I don't just make honey-do lists. I make lists for everyone in our family of things we need to make sure are taken care of. We even have a special app (I say 'we,' but I may have had something to do with downloading it) that syncs the lists on both of our phones and is accessible online (it's called 'Cozi' and I'm obsessed).
Apparently list making is just a fat waste of time. According to research from the project-tracking software provider, iDoneThis, only 41% of things on a to-do list actually get done.
Kevin Kruse is the author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management and Fast Company says that in his book, Kruse mentions that massively successful people like Bill Gates and Richard Branson don't write long to-do lists and prioritize things. Kruse says he interviewed more than 200 billionaires and none of them mentioned that a to-do list was essential to their success.
Krause also doesn't think lists are a good way to manage time because they don't factor in how much time it takes to complete the task. He also says that to be time efficient, planning for 15-30 minute at a time is the best way to get things done because it’s more realistic in accounting for time.
I'm sure Mr. Krause is a perfectly nice and intelligent man, but let me tell you- I'm lucky if I can plan for 5 minutes of uninterrupted time to shower. And that's the truth.
I'm not a billionaire. I'm not a millionaire. I'm not even a thousandaire. I'm a sleep deprived mom with a precious little guy who is so curious and full of energy that he doesn't sleep. Ever. In our home, lists are a necessity because they're what keep me and Jay on track when we start to get forgetful because our baby has eaten our brains.
Also, when I make a list, it's not only a way to keep my home in order with our chaotic schedules, but I see the list as a challenge. The faster I can finish a list, the faster I can get on with the important stuff. Like cuddling and tickling.
Moral of the story? Just do what works for you. Always.
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