Tame Your To-Do List: The Top 3, Easy 3, Next 3 Method

As you may know, I’m prone to creating optimistically long to do lists. And I don’t hate it.

Except…when I do.

There is a threshold at which well-meaning to-do lists become pointless.

Do you know what this feels like for you?

For me it’s - spacing out when I look at the list. It’s all a foggy, fuzzy blur…and I just want to nap.

This is one of the classic fear responses - a mental “faint.”

Maybe you get angry (fight), earnestly procrastinate (flee), or double down and try and do it all (fawn)?

Whatever flavor - I know this - when my to do lists initiates a fear response - I need a better plan.

One of the techniques I’ve been liking is really simple. For a given day identify your:

1. Top 3

2. Easy 3

3. Next 3

That’s it.

1. Top 3: the 3 most essential items for me to get done. Important to me or someone I care about.

2. Easy 3: 3 items that are short, small, low brain power or low will power.

3. Next 3: if I happen to do all this - what do I want to tackle next.

Bam. Try it.

One last comment on to-do lists.

Our lists often represent things we are doing in between all the “other things.”

Life serves up a lot of work.

The to-do list is the follow up, prep, and big picture stuff we do around all the incoming demands on our time & attention.

So - can we just all admit that doing 6-9 other things would be a HUGE win?

That doing just a few of the top 3, easy 3, next 3 would be enough.

Dream big. Do some stuff. Let that be enough.
​Love,

Marijke Ocean

P.S. What are your favorite productivity books, tools, or strategies? I'd love to hear them!