When you can cross off a task from your To-Do list you probably feel a very strong sense of accomplishment. For this reason many professionals have been using the To-Do list to keep them on track during their work day. However, there can be some drawbacks to the process. Long lists that force us to attempt to squeeze productivity out of every second of the day can actually backfire. Here are some ways your To-Do list could be hurting your productivity and how to do something about it.

Shorter lists are better

If you try to cram everything on to one to-do list you’ll find yourself rushing to cross things off and not actually paying attention to the quality of your work. The shorter your daily to-do list, the better job you will do overall. Each day assess three to four most important tasks and focus on those entirely.

Start with the hardest

So many people make the mistake of starting with the easiest projects first in order to get that rush when it can be crossed off the list. However, this can make it much harder to actually finish the more difficult tasks later in the day. Instead, flip these around. You’ll still get the satisfaction of crossing it off the list but then your afternoon will be much easier.

Don’t multi-task

Forget the entire idea of multi-tasking. The human brain is simply not designed to do more than one thing at a time. Instead, determine the best way to prioritize your work. If you learn better time management techniques you won’t feel as stressed out by multiple projects.

Know when to stop

Finally, it is extremely important that you know when to walk away from a project and give it a rest. Continuing to do the same thing over and over again even if it isn’t working is only going to drag you down. Shut it down for the night or for a few hours to regain momentum. You may even have some thoughts on the project while you’re away from it.

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