To-do lists keep track of tasks we have to do, but they hardly ever provide actual motivation.
A small tweak to your productivity method can solve that problem pretty quickly.
Whats a Break List?
organizing those lists, they just look like an insurmountable pile of work.
Some days I can live with that burden and breeze through the top priorities.
Other daysgenerally the bad onesI struggle to see any end to the work.
After all, by nature to-do lists never end.
They go on forever until you die and they dont care about giving you a break.
I thought, what if the listsdidcare about taking breaks?
You need themto avoid burnout and keep your sanity.
Iftaking functional breaks can helpand dysfunctional breaks can hurt, you probably ought to manage them, right?
Then check them off when youre done.
Why Do I Need Another List to Tell Me What to Do?
I know what youre thinking: Another list to gowithmy to-do list?
Because lists are awesome, nerdy fun!
Break awareness leads to motivation.
Remember your old friend guilt?
Guilt is that fun feeling that you get when you do something wrong, or you dont do enough.
Break lists keep you aware of how many breaks youve taken and how long they were for.
If youve taken several breaks, youll see that you’re gonna wanna buckle down.
Planned breaks increase efficiency.
Two competing lists gamify your task management in a subtle way.
With your to-do list, you check things off as you finish them.
This is gratifying, but its not really a game.
Will your work win out or will procrastination?
The lists are like scorecards for opposing teams, and the grand prize is your productivity.
Planned breaks help avoid burnout.
Maybe you dont procrastinate much, but you do probably work too much.
Perhaps youve experiencedthe horrors of burnoutas a result.
The same goes for taking breaks.
How Do I Set Up a Break List?
Task lists might feel overwhelming and like work, but thats becausethey are work.
Break lists are about fun things you enjoy, so theyre fun to make.
Maybe your breaks that be 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or a full hour.
Figure out how long your breaks can be under your specific work circumstances and remember those lengths.
Figure out whatyoulike to do and then break those activities into chunks that fit the time you have.
Istronglyrecommend that you avoid limiting your breaks by a specific amount of time if you could.
A countdown can make it feel a lot shorter and less fulfilling.
When you complete a task or break, just check it off.
Are There Any Helpful Tools I Should Know About?
Paper and pen works great for both to-dos and break lists.
(Check out Lifehackers overviewfor more information.)
Use your favorite app!
you’re free to use whatever you like to make break lists work for you.
If you love Wunderlist, Todoist, Todo.txt, or whatever else, you could use that.
We all have our preferences.
Figure out yours and give break lists a try.
It can really help you work more efficientlyandeffectively.
Adam Dachisis a Los Angeles-based writer and consultant.
Youll find him writing and making stuff over atAwkward Human, including his podcast theAwkward Human Survival Guide.
