Have you ever had trouble falling asleep because your brain is on overdrive? It’s hard to turn off the switch when so many things need our attention. Human beings cannot think two thoughts at the exact same time. We can move between thoughts incredibly quickly, and we can act upon multiple thoughts at the same time (like compound exercises), but our brains are literally unable to take two inputs and process them at once. It’s this natural proclivity to become overwhelmed that results in the effectiveness of making lists.

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Why Our Brains Become Overwhelmed

One ancient list that has lasted through the ages is the to-do list. Or, often translated to, the honey-do list.

Whenever we talk about lists, we have got to tackle the elephant in the room. There are two kinds of people. List makers and list hater.

If you aren’t into making lists, you may be soon. I hope you are soon. I hope you make a list the moment you finish reading this.

Why?

Because making lists is a productivity tool.

The brain loves ordered tasks. We don’t just appease the brain when we leverage list making, we supercharge it.

With a million thoughts scrambling around in our mind begging for attention, making a list brings order to the chaos.

It’s hard to focus in chaos.

On my last day of High School while driving to graduation practice, I rear ended a vehicle. My airbag deployed and smoke filled the cabin. It took me a minute to recognize what just happened. It all happened so fast.

I remember thinking, why is my hand hurting? Where did my cell phone go? I hope everyone is OK. Where am I? Why didn’t I see the vehicle ahead of me and put on my breaks sooner?

The chaos and confusion we get from a traffic accident is similar to how disoriented we can become when our brain is processing too many different thoughts.

We only see bits and pieces that don’t make sense and leave us in a state of panic or paralysis analysis.

How Lists Bring Order to Chaos

Lists bring order to chaos.

When everything we need to do is in our head, we don’t fully grasp the action steps.

This leads to feelings of anxiety, worry, procrastination, and dread.

Ambiguous tasks are scary and overwhelming.

Spending 5-10 minutes writing your tasks down as big tasks, and then writing smaller tasks within each one, immediately provides a sense of clarity.

When your next step is clearly in front of you, there’s no need to worry about what will happen or what you should do.

Just take one step forward on your written task.

Speaking of taking one step forward, many people find walking in nature helps them think more clearly.

If you struggle with collecting your thoughts, it’s very possible you’re suffering from constant simulation and a short walk would do wonders for you.

The Importance of Prioritization

Great lists also bring priority.

Now if our brains love order, they thrive on priority.

Every Monday morning, I create my weekly to-do list. It doesn’t matter if I’m re-writing something that carried over from last week. I start fresh and start clean.

At the top of the page, I write the most important task or project with specific sub-tasks to accomplish under it. I proceed writing tasks and sub-tasks until I believe the week’s work has been captured and that achieving those in higher priority would lead to a very accomplished week.

Some folks rely on coffee to be productive. Some folks rely on chance.

It’s best to rely on clarity.

Without clarity of task and priority, all we have is endless possibility Total chaos. And nothing gets done.

The clearer the task and priority, the more likely it will get crossed off the list.

The Satisfaction of Crossing Things Off

There is a deep satisfaction in accomplishing things.

What I have found is that people who tend not to cross things off their list usually aren’t making clear lists.

The task is too big or ambiguous.

When you have an accurate breakdown of necessary tasks, crossing them off one-by-one is not only easy, it’s fun.

Seriously.

It sounds simple but the result is complex.

Crossing off to-do items feels good, helps you be more at peace, calms your nervous system, and helps you identify the next set of to-do list items.

How to Create Better Lists

Compare these to-do lists and consider which seems more likely to be successful:

The Ambiguous List:

1. Be a good parent.
2. Get out of debt.
3. Impress the boss.
4. Make spouse feel special.
5. Do something for myself.

A Clear List:

1. Prepare lunches for the kids.
2. Check kids backpacks for homework and show-and-tell item
3. Pack my own lunch.
4. Don’t check *insert favorite shopping website here*.
5. Submit the work presentation to the boss before Noon.
6. During lunch, write spouse a thank you card and bring it home after work.
7. Download a new audio book and begin listening to it on my way home.
8. After dinner and before bed, ask spouse for 10 minutes of reflection time. No more. No less.

Let’s be real. You know which list would bring order to your chaos. You know which list would help you cross things off the list that day. You know which list you want.

Final Thoughts

If you want to be more successful, more content, and more at peace, take 5-10 minutes to make a list.

The clearer it is, the more likely you are to accomplish each task listed.

The more you accomplish, the better you’ll feel, the more lists you’ll want to make, and the more change you can effect on the world.

No matter how hard that most important task is on your list, do it. Or as Brian Tracy says, Eat that Frog!