Checklists - the burden

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your checklists?

Checklists are known to offer numerous benefits, including:

1. Enhanced Motivation.

2. Reduced Cognitive Load.

3. Improved Organization.

4. Stress Reduction.

5. Increased Focus and Accountability.

6. Facilitated Goal Achievement.

Ideally, the checklists you create should make you feel more organized and in control, not more stressed.

Consider this: we can hardly imagine a plane taking off without the pilot completing a thorough checklist.

If your checklists are making you feel worse, you might be misusing them.

In my early career, I thought adding everything to a checklist meant I was on top of things, showing reliability and professionalism. However, I soon realized this approach was overwhelming me with tasks, many of which were postponed to the next day. Simply adding tasks to a checklist didn’t ensure their completion, and this made me feel incompetent. Even after prioritizing tasks, I couldn’t accomplish everything.

I then shifted to using a physical piece of paper for my checklists, limiting my daily tasks. But this too had its drawbacks, as I felt tied to my To-Do list and the paper wasn’t always handy. Now, I use ToDoIst to quickly jot down tasks as they come to mind.

If any of this resonates with you, consider the possibility that you might be misusing checklists. After years of refinement, here's what I've learned:

1. Write down everything you need to do to unload your cognitive burden. Clarify why each task is important, its purpose, and its impact. This will help drive you to complete them.

2. Apply the Eisenhower matrix to help prioritize your tasks.

   

   Eisenhower Matrix

3. Plan specific times in your day to complete each task. I do it within my morning routine which I call ARIVA:

   • Arise: Get up when your alarm rings, not nine minutes later.

   • Reflect: Set your intentions for the day.

   • Ingest: Fuel your body with a healthy meal.

   • Vitamins: Take any necessary supplements.

   • Act: Start your day with purpose.

4. Be honest with yourself about what you truly want and are willing to do. Adding tasks to your schedule without follow-through can be demotivating.

5. At the end of the day, review your task list and reflect on your day.

Remember, you are in control of your days; live them intentionally. Learning to say 'no' when necessary is a superpower. Use it wisely and understand your boundaries.

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