Rethink To-do lists

To-do lists can actually leave you feeling more stressed and overwhelmed than you did before. To-do lists encourage us to keep adding as many tasks on the paper as we want. Do you really want to run your day on a to-do list? Do you want to live your life based on the boxes you check off?

To-do lists reward you for things that possible don’t actually correspond to your main values. Do you really want to incentivize productivity and “getting things done” over other things that are actually more important? Research shows that by aligning our actions with our values matters for happiness, life satisfaction, and creativity! Luckily, there is a way to replace a to-do list with a daily practice that is more meaningful and intentional.

Replace a To-do list with a To-be list

Are you looking for a way to make your daily routine more meaningful and intentional? If so, consider replacing your to-do list with a “to be” list. This is a great way to focus on the kind of person you want to be. Instead of focusing on what tasks you need to accomplish. By writing words that reflect how you want to be, it can help motivate you on a daily basis. This practice can remind yourself of the kind of person that you aspire to become.

A “to be” list is more than just a regular list. It’s about developing an intentional practice that will help guide your actions each day. It can provide focus and clarity for what matters most in life. This practice can remind us that our actions should reflect our values and intentions. This daily practice can help bring clarity and purpose into your life, as well as lead to more meaningful decisions. With this type of list, we can make sure we are taking steps towards becoming the best version of ourselves.

Consider these questions when creating your to-be list:

1. What kind of person do I want to be today?
2. What qualities or attributes do I want to express today?
3. How do I take on the traits of my role model or someone I admire?
4. How will I use my voice to express my identity? How will I dress to express that identity?
5. What qualities do I want to show to myself today? What qualities do I want to show to others?
6. What qualities are of my highest self? My truest and authentic self?
7. What qualities will help me through today?

Here is an example of just some words that might come up for you as you answer these questions: