Is Your To-Do List Actually a Wish List?
We often underestimate how long things take and overestimate how much we can get done in one day. This combination sets us up to feel as though we are failing, even when we are not. It also makes it easy to overpromise and underdeliver.
There are many different ways to plan more effectively, but a good place to start is by asking: Is your to-do list really a to-do list, or is it a wish list?
You can only plan a day well if you understand the bigger picture; things like your goals, your team’s priorities, and what is urgent or important. With this context, you can make better choices and set clearer priorities. Then zoom in on today. Look at the shape of your day—meetings, travel, breaks, and the space you need to recover—and decide what you can realistically get done in the time you have.
Taking this approach means you are managing expectations: those of the people around you, as well as your own. And it feels better, too. You reach the end of most days with a list that is complete, rather than one that follows you endlessly into tomorrow.
