If you want to live your life like the boss you truly are, there is one thing you can do that will up your game, guaranteed.
It is a very obvious and easy thing to do, but stay with me because even though this is super simple, many people don’t do it or don’t do it correctly.
The one simple thing you can do to be organized and efficient is to …
WRITE THINGS DOWN PROPERLY.
Now, read on because I am slightly obsessive about organization ( you may change your mind soon), but this could be helpful if you want to be more organized.
How to write a to-do list like a boss
I fell in love with to-do lists as a little girl watching my father on our dining room table, holding those long, narrow lists in blue ink.
He would go over his list and cross out everything he had done.
I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And I still do.
I wanted to do that when I grew up. And I do it every day.
How to write your to-do list efficiently:
- Make a weekly or daily to-do list. Write down what you want to accomplish that week for work or your personal life.
- Make a new list at the beginning of each week or day. This will give you a clear understanding of what’s ahead of you, free of mental clutter, untended tasks from previous weeks, and all the scribbles and messy sidenotes that come with them.
- If a previous task wasn’t accomplished, consider whether it’s still relevant for this week or day. If yes, add it to the new list.
- Make a one-page to-do list. Post-it notes are not organized and effective enough. They fall off easily, and you will waste time and energy looking at all the Post-it notes to find the necessary information.
- Keep the list visible. I love to have mine on my desk, right by my keyboard.
- Cross off the accomplished items. This is super important. Every time you cross off an item, your brain gets a hit of dopamine, which makes you feel good about yourself and your productivity and will make you want more of that good stuff.
How to write things on your calendar
We all write our appointments, meetings, and children’s school functions on our calendars.
Here is how to use your calendar like a boss:
- If you go to a new place, also write the complete address.
- If you need to bring anything specific for the appointment, write it down so that when you look at your calendar the week or the day before, you can get ready with whatever you need to bring.
- When the school year starts, write down all your children’s breaks and back-to-school days. That way, you don’t fill up your day with commitments on a day that the kids are off and you have to scramble for childcare.
How to write down your contacts
We all write down our contacts on our phones, and some of us still write in a good old phone book.
Here is how to take it to the next level:
- Save your contacts properly.
When you save a new number under Tim or Sandra, but several months later, you will have no idea who they are if you don’t call them. So save it correctly, Tim (Gardener) or Sandra (Math tutor).
This trick is handy for doctors, dentists, repair services, car garages, locksmiths, and any other service you may need at a moment’s notice or in an emergency.
- If you meet someone new or a new contact is sent your way, add their number to your contacts; it can be super critical to have that person’s number in the future, either for you or someone around you who may need it.
Every boss knows that what you know does not always matter, but who you know makes all the difference. And if you have that person’s contact number, you are ahead of the game, my dear.
Writing reminders will keep you efficient and at peace
Writing proper reminders is where organization and productivity meet peace of mind.
Anything you keep in mind to take care of later will rob mental energy, focus and space in your brain. You won’t feel relaxed about it because you worry you will miss, neglect, or forget it.
Yet, these things are not urgent and necessary at the moment, so they aren’t on your to-do list and don’t have a set date to be put on the calendar.
Here’s what you can do:
- Use a reminder app. I use the app Reminders on my iPhone, and it’s super easy to use.
- I also use the same app for my to-do lists to keep things simple.
- Write all the important things you want to remember on your reminders. Like the last time you changed the oil in your car, the amount of money you owe or a deposit you gave someone, and the specific form you will need in six months when you file your taxes.
- Remember to delete reminders that are no longer relevant, keeping it all neat and effective.
Writing notes is the cherry on top
After having our contacts, calendar, to-do lists, and reminders help us kick ass like a boss, the cherry on top are the notes.
How to use notes:
- Use a phone app. I like Google Keep because I can access it from anywhere, it’s user-friendly, and I can also add photos.
- Write a correct title so it will be easy and quick to find what you are looking for.
- You can save anything you love, like, or need on your notes. From cooking recipes to lists of parks in your town to book recommendations and quotes, important links and work information, anything you will ever need could be at your fingertips.
In conclusion, by doing something as simple as writing things down properly, you will be productive, organized, and efficient and enjoy peace of mind and confidence.
So you can live your life like a boss.
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If you enjoy the topic of productivity, you will also enjoy this article.
https://www.chanyzagury.com/2025/02/17/the-art-of-creating-time/
