Don’t slip up and “girl boss” too hard, ladies. Overworking is the quickest way to overwhelm, and it does nothing to boost productivity. That’s why I’m sharing the best minimalist to do list strategy for when you’re ready to create a life of ease.
Less is always more in minimalism.
Restrict your minimalist to do list to 3 task items per day to keep your sanity and get things done.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed just thinking about what you have to tackle for the day?
What’s worse is when you choose to do absolutely nothing. It’s normal to feel anxiety when your weekly to-do list fills up an entire page back-to-back.
We’ve all been there.
Staring at your list will make you feel exhausted and less motivated.
Daily planning should be an exercise that brings structure to your weekly schedule and relieves stress and anxiety at the same time.
If you’re embarking on your minimalism journey, one of the first things you need to do is minimize your task list at work, home, and/or school.
But before we get into what’s the best minimalist to do list strategy for beginners, let’s explore what minimalism is.
Minimalism – a lifestyle principle characterized by simplicity, focusing on essentials, and eliminating excess in order to achieve clarity, calmness, and intentionality in various aspects of life.
The practice of simplicity is important for minimalist beginners because it helps with focusing on what truly matters, reduces the overwhelm, and creates a sense of clarity and peace.
When minimalists embrace simplicity, it gradually declutters their lives and prioritizes what adds value and meaning. This eventually leads to a positive, more intentional and fulfilling lifestyle.
So, you’re probably wondering how minimalists approach their day-to-day life? Don’t worry, I’ll give you a peek into mine.
10 Easy Ways To Create A Minimalist To Do List
Focus on high priority tasks
One thing I’ve learned as a minimalist is to not overexert myself.
Minimalists don’t take the 24-hours in a day for granted. We should fill our time in life with precious moments, not manage it by the hour.
Time management is a strategy many minimalists use to ensure they’re making the most of the day, not filling every time slot up with tasks.
Minimalism promotes productivity in a way that ensures you’re hyper focused on what matters most.
Think about what’s the most important event, activity, or project that will help you reach a short-term or long-term goal.
Scheduling a doctor’s appointment or making a smoothie for lunch that’s jam packed with nutrients are high-priority tasks for someone who intentionally wants to change their lifestyles.
Maybe you’d like to save more money this year. Opening a high-yield savings account or investing extra cash into an index fund on payday is something that’s worth putting on your calendar every month.
Do you have to complete these tasks in one day? No, but you need to distinguish habits from high priority tasks to avoid overwhelm.
Getting up and completing a skin care routine should be a good habit you practice. It’s not something you would add to your minimalist to do list for the day.
The first step is being intentional about the outcome of your day.
What are your weekly goals? Write out a list of things you’d like to complete by Sunday that will get measurable results in your personal development or goal achievement for the month.
Add items to your daily to do list based upon their level of importance and limit your number of tasks to complete per day.
Three items on a minimalist to do list are the sweet spot.
Set realistic expectations for task completion
Even if you limit your daily tasks to a minimum of 5-7 items, you need to be realistic about the time required to complete each one.
If your high-priority to-do list includes three projects in one day, there’s nothing minimalist about it.
Try the low-hanging fruit method.
Complete 1-2 simple tasks that won’t take up much of your time first thing in the morning and reserve the larger project or time-consuming activity for later.
I like to tackle challenging tasks first and give myself a bit of a breather before doing the heavy lifting. Do what works best for you!
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Keep your to do list short and concise
Leave all the bells and whistles off of your minimalist to do list. Your to do list should not include every single detail.
Just looking at a wall of text or paragraphs that describe what you need to accomplish for the day will only discourage you.
Trust me, I know.
I’m more of a traditional planner, so a pen and paper will always be my go-to.
However, if your daily task items fill more than one line – you’re doing too much, goal friends.
Keep it straightforward.
Avoid unnecessary complexities
Don’t leave gaps in your to-do lists to fill in at the last moment. Unless it’s an emergency, it can wait until the next day.
In fact, there are a few things that can wait. Remember, you’re prioritizing important tasks.
Putting up new curtains or going to visit your favorite restaurant for date night aren’t really ‘tasks’ you have to add on your minimalist to do list when there are other pressing concerns.
Maybe taxes are due for your business or you’re carpooling for the soccer team. Surely, those take priority over the things you’d like to do for leisure.
Another mistake you’ll need to avoid is trying to complete all the tasks at once.
Redecorating your home or deep cleaning may require a few days. Don’t stress yourself out trying to complete all of those tasks at one time.
You won’t gain any superhuman powers checking everything off of your minimalist to do list in 24-hours.
Life is unpredictable. Deadlines at work get pushed up. Car trouble is often unexpected. Falling ill with the flu doesn’t always come with warning signs.
We can’t prepare for everything life hands us.
Your to do list should include tasks that are realistic to complete in a reasonable amount of time.
Don’t over commit and learn to say no
Minimalist to do lists combat overwhelm by keeping your schedule clear and not overcomplicating what needs to get done for the day.
Sometimes, your day may only involve going grocery shopping, working at the office, and washing your hair.
Random invites from colleagues and friends for lunch and dinner plans may pop up out of nowhere, but you don’t have to say ‘yes’ to every single one.
If you need extra time to prepare for events at the last minute, save yourself the headache and decline.
You’re not obligated to do everything that’s on your schedule, and you don’t have to spend what little energy you have left in the day without recharging.
When your boss needs you to stay late or someone close to you needs a favor, figure out what your mental capacity is first.
Are you okay with running a late night errand across town for a family member? Were you planning to put in overtime for work or did you have different evening plans?
Don’t let others dictate what your life will look like. Stand your ground and prioritize your daily goals instead.
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Indulge in single-tasking
Much like hustle culture, multitasking is a thing of the past, goal friends!
Completing all tasks at once won’t get you closer to achieving your goals any faster than focusing on one task. Multitasking leads to a decrease in cognitive performance and increases stress levels.
Putting your hands in multiple pots does absolutely nothing, but causes adverse effects such as mental fatigue, physical exhaustion, and an inability to focus and retain information.
‘Slow and steady wins the race’ still applies to your minimalist to do list. Be patient and take one step at a time. Single-tasking is the way to go!
Embrace flexibility
Given some of the common misconceptions regarding the practice of minimalism, some people think that minimalism is not about liking things but about being rigid in their thought process, decision-making, and belief system.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Minimalists have more mental capacity to think, make sound decisions, and open themselves up to different perspectives about what they believe in.
Being flexible in their day to day isn’t a challenge. When you’re not worrying or overstimulated with issues, you have no control over, there’s more opportunity to center yourself every single day.
You don’t have to be chained to your minimalist to do list. On the days you’re feeling unwell, unmotivated, or life gets in the way, there should be no shame in setting your tasks aside.
Your wellness comes first, but so does helping others.
Mommies, your children and spouses need you. Family emergencies arise where your tasks need to switch to meet the needs of others.
Sometimes, your body needs rest and recovery. Pick up those tasks to complete another time. Review and make adjustments as needed.
Celebrate your small wins
Life’s no fun without reward. Minimalists may not be a fan of material things, but there are various ways to celebrate your victories. Booking experiences and treating yourself to rewards are two.
No one wants to carry on through life making sure they achieve their daily goals. Where’s the joy and satisfaction in that?
It’s important to show gratitude for the hard work you’ve put in and show appreciation for what you’ve accomplished in the here and now.
Minimalists don’t wait until the end of the year to celebrate their wins.
Simple pleasures are what many of them cherish.
So, even if you only scratch one item off of your minimalist to do list, reward yourself with an episode of your favorite TV series, a bowl of ice cream, trip to the bookstore, a cute picnic, or date night at a new restaurant.
Completing your to do list every day for weeks on end isn’t for the weak.
You’ve come a long way; might as well acknowledge your achievement with an activity or event that brings a smile to your face.
Now that you’ve cracked the code to simplicity in task organization, I’m sharing a few practical methods and apps you can use to create a minimalist to do list of your own.
Minimalist To Do List – Simple tools or methods
- Paper and pen method
- Digital Apps – Notepad, ToDoist, Trello, Asana, Evernote, Monday.com
- Time Blocking Technique
- Microsoft To-Do
- TickTick
- Any.Do
- Digital Planners
- Paper Planner
- Bullet Journal
- Pomodoro Technique
- Google Keep
Experimenting with different to do list methods will help you gradually transition into a minimalist to do list approach. Determine what works best for your lifestyle and carve out some time out of your day to review and readjust. Download a copy the FREE ‘Time Blocking’ Printable to get started on your minimalist to do list journey today!
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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