Boost productivity & achieve goals: The psychology behind making lists
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lose track of our goals and priorities. However, one powerful tool that has stood the test of time in helping us stay organised and focused is the humble to-do list.
“Making lists is one of the most effective productivity tips. It helps us organize our thoughts, prioritize tasks, and stay focused on what truly matters.”
– Richard Branson
Creating lists not only provides a sense of structure and direction, but also taps into various psychological mechanisms that can significantly enhance productivity.
In this blog, we will explore 5 psychological aspects that make lists effective and discuss how they can be harnessed to maximise productivity and achieve our desired outcomes.
1. Externalising Your Thoughts
Our brains have limited working memory, which means it can only hold a certain amount of information at any given time.
By jotting down tasks and ideas on a list, we externalise our thoughts, freeing up valuable mental space.
This act of offloading information onto paper or a digital platform allows us to focus on the task at hand without the fear of forgetting something important.
By reducing cognitive load, lists enable us to process information more effectively and make better decisions.
2. Goal Clarity and Visualisation
Lists serve as a visual representation of our goals and aspirations. When we see our objectives clearly outlined in front of us, it becomes easier to prioritise tasks and allocate resources accordingly.
Breaking down larger goals into smaller, actionable steps creates a sense of progress and accomplishment, which further motivates us to continue working towards our objectives.
The visual nature of lists helps us maintain focus and keeps our goals at the forefront of our minds.
3. The Zeigarnik Effect
The Zeigarnik Effect, a psychological phenomenon named after Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, states that unfinished tasks create a mental tension that persistently occupies our thoughts. This tension serves as a powerful motivator, urging us to complete the task and relieve the cognitive burden.
Lists leverage this effect by allowing us to capture incomplete tasks and commitments.
By ticking off completed items, we experience a sense of closure, satisfaction, and a reduction in mental strain.
4. Prioritisation and Decision Making
Lists assist in prioritising tasks and making decisions based on their relative importance.
By ranking items in order of priority, we can ensure that our time and energy are directed towards the most crucial tasks.
This helps us avoid getting bogged down by less significant activities or becoming overwhelmed by an excessive workload. The act of categorising and ordering tasks provides a clear roadmap, making it easier to make choices and stay on track.
5. Overcoming Procrastination
Procrastination is a common productivity roadblock. However, lists can be a powerful tool for combating this tendency. By breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and setting deadlines for each item, we create a sense of urgency and eliminate the overwhelming nature of larger tasks. The act of crossing off completed items also provides a sense of accomplishment, further incentivising us to tackle the next task on the list.
Lists transform daunting projects into actionable steps, making it easier to overcome the inertia of procrastination.
Enhance Productivity & Achieve Goals
Lists offer a range of psychological benefits that enhance productivity and help us achieve our goals.
By externalising our thoughts, clarifying goals, leveraging the Zeigarnik Effect, aiding decision making, and combating procrastination, lists become an indispensable tool in our productivity arsenal.
Whether it’s a handwritten to-do list or a digital task management app, harnessing the power of lists can lead to improved focus, efficiency, and overall satisfaction with our accomplishments.