The Already Done List.

Written By Britta Gudmunson

I’m a fan of to-do lists. A wooden clipboard lives on the wall next to my desk where I write down my list of priorities for the day. This practice keeps me sane and organized. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I consider it part of my morning ritual.

 

But I’m also a hyperachiever who’s trained myself to triple-check the motives behind every productivity hack. So let’s talk about the to-do list pitfalls… 

 

Best-case scenario, your to-do list creates relief and satisfaction in a good day’s work. But be honest. How often do you end your day with at least 3 tasks on your “daily priorities” list incomplete? Failing to hit all our targets makes us feel chronically underwhelmed at the end of our day despite the genuine progress and checked boxes. 

 

This conundrum can be solved with better boundaries and a set of pre-defined, realistic guidelines when you create your to-do list. (See the ps below.)

 

Or, you could create an Already Done list instead.

 

“Time Management for Mortals” author Oliver Burkeman talks about this method as a way to promote all sorts of good vibes and wondrous outcomes in your brain and nervous system.

 

For hyperachievers and anyone in burnout recovery (or active prevention), this seemingly-backward productivity tool is secretly-brilliant; it replaces a pending sense of discontent with an evidence-based sense of accomplishment.

 

A real-life example:

 

Monday:

  • Slept okay. Let myself sleep until 7:15ish

  • Meditation at 8 with a friend - pranayama practice

  • Drank a quart of warm water with electrolytes 

  • Made Chinese herbs & Dandy Blend/cacao latte

  • Journaled & wrote a daily task list on my trusty clipboard   
    (see? I really do this)

  • Checked/responded to email, group threads, text messages

  • Work: wrote 3x newsletters for the month ahead to send to my list

  • Break: poke bowl with rice, salad, avocado, Japanese bbq sauce that I love

  • Work: created a page for a new offer on my website

  • Break: 35 minute HIIT workout with Juice & Toya; took a walk with the cats

  • Run a bath; put in laundry

  • Work/Relax: Got in bath, used bath desk to do 1 more hour of client outreach and follow up

  • Dinner: salmon, rice, broccoli

  • Made some Kava for Ben and I; watched an episode of “All Creatures Great & Small” 

  • Bedtime

     

Will you try out the Already Done list sometime this week?

Britta Gudmunson
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