Throwing out the To-Do List

Ok, hear me out! I know the to-do list is a favorite among PhD researchers. It can provide a much needed structure and sense of accomplishment, both of which can be scarce in our lone pursuit of our degree.

And I’ll admit that it took me until mid-way through 2^nd year to even start using them. God only knows why avoided it for so long. Probably something to do with marching to the beat of my own drum. Whilst I found them very useful, they always sort of sit in the back of my mind. Haunting me until I check off that very last box.

I think, especially during COVID homeworking, it might also be beneficial to make a Ta-Da list.  Making a Ta-Da list is easy! As you complete a task, no matter how small, like doing your daily email admin, write it down. Then by the end of the day, you’ll have a inventory of all the things you achieved in a day.

I find the Ta-Da list really helpful, and apparently I am not the only one. Psychology recognises that unfortunately us humans are more likely to remember the tasks we didn’t complete than the ones that we did. This tends to have a negative impact on our perception of work/life balance. At the end of the day, I find myself trying to sleep but still having that nagging feeling that I had an unproductive workday. Which ironically means that I am stressed out and tired for my next day of work, and so the shame spiral begins.

Instead, the Ta-Da lists essentially works as a gentle cheerleader. Or functions as your best work pal, reminding you of all your day’s accomplishments when you are having a moan about not feeling productive.

So, rather than completely throwing out the To-Do list completely and never using it again, I recommend switching it up a bit. Doing a daily Ta-Da list, I am not a slave to my unchecked boxes, even though they are definitely still there. It is an objective way to honor all the work I have done in the day, even if my inner-perfectionist is stressed that I haven’t done enough. Rather than a traditional productivity tip, I view the Ta-Da list as a self-care practice. It also just happens to boost my outputs in a roundabout mental health way. Well screw it; I’ll take what I can get!