Writing to-do lists was one of my favorite things to do.

I had dozens of tiny notebooks that were overloaded with lists.

I tracked my tasks day in and day out and made sure most of them were completed. Filling my notebooks with endless work made me feel productive, organized, and serious about my time.

Without to-do lists I felt like I had nothing to do—like I was useless. I would constantly look through them just to feel a sense of responsibility and commitment.

Fast-forward nearly two decades, my obsession with to-do lists is starting to wane. I feel that my productivity is no longer tied to a piece of paper. In fact, the more lists I create, the harder it feels to stay committed. It has taken me a long time to realize that to-do lists don’t always work.

Here’s why:

1. They’re overwhelming. When we look at a long list of tasks, our brains automatically deem it “too much,” making it harder for us to stay dedicated. Most days we just scan the list without really taking initiative.

2. They shift our focus. Oftentimes we obsess over the list instead of obsessing over the tasks. So we end up focused on ticking off some items rather than prioritizing the tasks.

3. They lack specificity. To-do lists are general. Because of their mixed nature, focusing on one task is tricky, which makes it hard to determine where to start. We end up moving forward with the easiest task instead of the most necessary.

4. They create self-competition. Pushing ourselves to become better is beneficial. However, when it comes to to-do lists, they force us to compete against ourselves just so we can scratch out lines on a paper.

5. They fail to meet daily challenges. Some days we might not be able to cross items off because of daily, inevitable challenges that might crop up, such as sickness, death, or our 9 to 5 jobs.

6. They create pressure. A list looks organized, but the truth is it subconsciously pressures us to accomplish tasks quickly rather than wisely. We need efficiency, not speed.

We often blame ourselves when we don’t feel productive or committed enough. But to-do lists aren’t the real problem. What’s problematic is our approach. I have found that instead of hoarding tasks and feeling miserable for not doing them, I can simply prioritize tasks.

That means I focus on the most important task and do it. I don’t even estimate how long it might take me to accomplish it. It might take me hours, days, or weeks; it doesn’t matter. What really matters is that I get it done—slowly, diligently, and mindfully.

So ditch your to-do lists and focus on prioritizing important tasks—one task at a time. It will be more helpful in the long run.

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