If you have ever felt the urge to take control of your life and pursue your goals with earnest dedication, creating a to-do list might be the first step that comes to mind. While it’s a popular tool for managing time and tracking progress, many of us find that our to-do lists often don’t work as well as we had hoped for. So, why do they fail, and how can we make them more effective? Let’s explore together to uncover the common mistakes we make when creating to-do lists.

To do list — what is it?

First, we need to understand what a to-do list is. You might be thinking, ‘What a silly question! Everyone knows it’s just a list of things we need to do.’ But there’s more to it than that. The crux of a to-do list isn’t about ticking off tasks but consistently making progress. Confused? Let me explain. Instead of merely focusing on the routine of ticking off items, we should concentrate on a system that helps us achieve our goals. It’s about creating a process that keeps us moving forward.

Make a system not the to do list

What does it mean to build a system? The ‘system’ I’m referring to is an identity mindset that sets us in motion. For example, if I’m writing this blog and my goal is to become a successful blogger, I’ve set my destination far into the future — it will take time to get there. To support this journey, I can create a to-do list like:

• Write a blog once a week.

But this task can be broken down into several subtasks to make it more manageable:

• Read one blog from a famous writer daily.
• Jot down the common formats that successful bloggers use.
• Analyze how they frame their titles and the variety of topics they cover.

By developing this system, I’m not just setting goals — I’m embracing the identity of a blogger and creating a process that propels me forward. This approach shifts the focus from a distant destination to daily actions that align with my desired identity.

This list of tasks & its sub-tasks are exceedingly long & never fit perfect to what we want it to look like. Forget about implementing, it’s in the middle of making it start to seem impartible to be put up on paper that what we want and how we shall do it.

A system aligned with your goal

Before we even start jotting down tasks on a to-do list, the first step is to shift how we identify ourselves. It’s about embracing a new role wholeheartedly. Take me, for example: instead of thinking, I want to be a blogger, I began affirming, I am a blogger. This simple yet profound change in self-perception transformed my entire approach. By adopting the mindset of who I am, rather than who I want to be, the paradigm shifts entirely. Suddenly, my actions align with my identity, and progress becomes a natural outcome. Think back to your school days — who were you then? We identified ourselves as students; that was our identity. And what does a student do? Study. Of course, being a student isn’t only about studying — we engaged in various activities — but the title ‘student’ encompassed our primary role.

Not all students study the same way, nor do they attend school every single day. Some excel and become top of the class, while others struggle and might even fail. Yet, regardless of these differences, we were all called students.

The key point is that despite varying behaviors and outcomes, the identity of a student remained constant. This illustrates how powerful adopting an identity can be in shaping our actions and mindset. By embracing the role of a ‘student,’ we inherently align ourselves with the behaviors associated with that identity. If you want to shed some extra kilos or learn to play the guitar, think about creating a system aligned with your desired goal. For example, commit to a year-long gym membership, invest in a new pair of running shoes, and get dedicated workout gear. Equip yourself with headphones and a water bottle adorned with an inspiring quote to keep you motivated during workouts.

If learning the guitar is your aim, buy a guitar and enroll in weekend or evening classes. Create a social media page to share every step of your journey. Promote yourself within your circle as who you are now, not who you will be in the future. By embracing your new identity and sharing your progress, you reinforce your commitment and make your goals more tangible.

There is no check list for success, only mindset is.

If you’ve stayed with me until now, I applaud your patience and commitment. Let me tell you this: there’s no checklist for becoming who you aspire to be — it’s all about mindset. You don’t need to worry about missing tasks here and there; order and consistency aren’t the only measures of progress. It’s perfectly okay to feel low some days or lack the motivation to do anything. Be kind to yourself.

Avoid the mistake of idealizing some hero you’ve read about in a book or seen in a documentary. While drawing inspiration from others is valuable, trying to mimic them is something I’d caution against. Do what you love, and if you’ve chosen a passion that aligns with your inner values, everything will start to fall into place. Trust yourself, and don’t worry — the journey will unfold as it should.

Conclusion

Let me conclude, while it’s good to have a to-do list, it loses its value if we lack the passion to engage with it daily. Success isn’t measured by merely checking off tasks, but by the effort we invest and the dedication we demonstrate — even when it leaves us tired. Everything else is peripheral and can’t truly satisfy that inner drive.

I’ve recently started writing. Admittedly, my thoughts sometimes stray in flow and direction, and consistency isn’t always my strong suit. But guess what? I am a blogger. Embracing this identity gives me a profound sense of satisfaction. I’ve become who I wanted to be.

Desi Neo