Using a To-Do List Effectively as a Digital Nomad: Tips and Tricks
Digital nomads are a unique breed of people, with unique needs and lifestyles. We have to be able to keep up with our work remotely and still keep on top of our personal responsibilities. A good way to do this is by using a to-do list system that works for you.
Know what your to-do list can and cannot do for you.
The most important thing to remember about your to-do list is that it's not meant to be a replacement for your brain. A good to-do list helps you capture and organize thoughts and ideas, but it can never replace the power of human memory. If you rely on your list too much, then when something unexpected comes up (and it will), you may find yourself scrambling around trying to figure out what needs doing next--when really all they had to do was look at their list!
That said: if used correctly, a well-formulated task manager like Trello or Wunderlist can be an invaluable tool for keeping track of everything from grocery shopping lists (which also doubles as great fodder for blog posts) all the way up through complex projects like book writing or launching a new business venture overseas
Use the right tools for the job.
When selecting a to-do list app, make sure it's easy to use and understand. You don't want to waste time learning how to use your new tool when there are so many other things you could be doing with your day.
Make sure the app is available on all of your devices; this way, no matter where you are or what device you have in hand at any given moment (laptop? smartphone?), it will always be accessible and up-to-date with everything that needs attention.
Another important consideration is cost--if an app costs money, make sure its features justify the expense before purchasing it! Most good task management apps offer free versions that include most basic features but also have paid options for users who need additional bells and whistles like integrations with other programs like Google Calendar or Dropbox storage space limits lifted off after reaching certain thresholds within their accounts' limits set by default by these companies themselves (so long as these services aren't blocked due either because someone else has already maxed out their allotted storage space allowance).
Make your to-do list visible at all times.
The best way to ensure that you're using your to-do list effectively is to make it visible at all times. There are many ways in which this can be done, depending on where you work and what tools are available:
A wall-mounted whiteboard (or even just a large piece of paper) can help keep track of everything that needs doing. If there are more than one person working from home, consider sharing the responsibility for updating the board so that no one gets overwhelmed by all their tasks at once.
If you prefer digital tools, there are many options available, including apps like Trello or Asana which allow users create multiple lists within one app; Google Calendar; Microsoft Excel; or any number of other programs designed specifically for keeping track of tasks.
Get into the habit of checking off tasks as you complete them.
By adding tasks to your to-do list, you'll get into the habit of checking off items as you complete them. If you don't cross out an item when it's done, it will remain on your list and keep reminding you that there's more work to do. This can be demotivating! It's much better for everyone involved if all the tasks are crossed off so that everyone can see how much progress has been made (and feel accomplished).
Prioritize your tasks in order of importance, not just urgency.
The most important thing to remember when prioritizing your tasks is that importance and urgency are not the same thing. Your urgent tasks are those that must be completed immediately, but they may not necessarily be the most important thing for you to do at any given time. For example, if it's 5pm on Friday night and you have an important presentation due on Monday morning, then getting that presentation done would be an urgent task (you want to get it done before midnight). However, if your goal is to spend more time with family or friends over the weekend rather than working on this project until midnight each night during the week leading up to its deadline (and potentially sacrificing other aspects of life), then completing this project by Monday morning isn't actually all that important--it's just urgent!
When determining which tasks should come first on our list each day/weekend/month etc., we need look beyond just whether something requires immediate attention; instead we should also consider whether doing so will help us reach our long-term goals faster than other potential activities would allow. For example: If one of your goals is "eat healthier" then eating junk food might seem like an easy way out when hunger strikes mid-afternoon after working through lunch without eating anything nutritious at all; however consuming too many calories from unhealthy foods could sabotage efforts towards reaching this goal because these types tend not only lack fiber but also contain large amounts fat which makes them harder digest properly thus resulting stomach pains later down road due...
Keep a space on your to-do list for long-term goals, as well as short ones.
Long-term goals are what give you a sense of purpose. They're the things you want to achieve, and they can be anything from "learn Spanish" to "become an expert in data science." They're important because they keep you motivated when things get tough.
Long-term goals are also useful because they help us prioritize our short term tasks, by making sure we're focusing on accomplishing them before tackling something else. For example, if one of your long-term goals is learning Spanish, then every time a new vocabulary word comes up during your daily study session (or even during your commute), it should be added onto your list as a new task--even if it doesn't seem urgent at first glance!
Short term tasks help us get things done quickly: these could include things like cleaning up dishes after dinner or running errands before going out for drinks with friends later this evening...and yes! You can put these types of items into an application like Nozbe too :)
Review every item on your to-do list before adding it to the list again.
Review your to-do list every day.
If a task is no longer relevant or needs to be changed, remove it from the list and add a new one in its place. For example, if you were going to do some coding work but found out that someone else was already doing it for you, delete that task from your list and add something else instead -- like "eat lunch."
If a task has been completed (and checked off), remove it from your list entirely so that you don't accidentally include an old item when making changes tomorrow or next week!
You can use a digital or analog paper based approach with a personalized system that suits your needs and lifestyle
A to-do list is a tool that can be used to manage your time, tasks, priorities and goals. The options are endless when it comes to how you use this system. You could use a digital or analog paper based approach with a personalized system that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Here are some examples:
Use it as a daily planning tool to help prioritize what needs doing today (in order of priority). This will keep you focused on what's urgent instead of being overwhelmed by everything on your plate at once!
Use it as an ongoing project list where everything gets added in chronological order so there's no chance of forgetting something important later down the road when things start getting busy again (this is especially useful if working remotely from home).
We've covered a lot of ground here, so let's recap what we learned. The most important thing is to get into the habit of using a to-do list. As you start using one regularly, you'll discover which tools work best for your needs and lifestyle. You should also consider how much time each task will take before adding it to your list in order to maximize productivity!
