How to Use a Post-it Note To Do List System
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Looking for a new way to spice up your daily to do’s and home organization? Check out this Post-it Note To Do List system to help you track your daily, weekly, and monthly things to do.
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Are you tired of fumbling for stray bits of paper or a ratty notepad for keeping track of the things you need to do each day?
Is your list app so full you can’t organize tasks in a way that works for you?
Are you scrambling to find the motivation to do your household tasks?
Forget motivation. What you really need is a system.
When you have a system in place that works, rain or shine, you don’t need to worry about finding that misplaced motivation. Systems are habits that get the work done for you.
And this post-it note to-do list system is it!
Why Use a Post-it Note To-Do List
It’s simple.
Likely you’ve seen those complex planner systems at the store that promise to help you get your life together or watched the reels of someone’s fancy schmancy bullet journal. Overwhelming systems don’t help someone already overwhelmed.
The beauty of the post-it note to-do list is that it’s incredibly simple. Just one 3-inch square to help you focus on what needs to get done today.
How to Implement the Post-it Note To-Do List
1. Write out all the things that need to do done this month.
Seriously. Don’t worry about organizing any of it, just get it out of your head.
The actual act of writing the list can help you problem solve and organize all the swirling in your head. After that the list serves as reminder of what needs to be done as well as a herald of accomplishment when you can cross that thing off the list.
2. Isolate what needs to get done this week.
Review your monthly list and prioritize. What is top level and what can wait for later?
Move the most pressing things for this week over to the weekly column.
3. Choose just a few things to do today.
That’s it. Just a few things. You can’t choose more than fits on the post-it note.
This idea originated in this book, write your daily “to do’s” on a Post-it note. If it can’t fit on that itty bitty square, it can’t fit in your day.
The small size of the post-it note forces you to focus. You don’t bite off more than you can chew. And you can get stuff done!
Psst, overacheiver, if you want to do more and you finish what’s on the post-it note, you can always get a new sticky note.
Get the free printable.
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At the same time you subscribe, you’ll get instant access to the Life as Mom Free Resource Library, including guides and printables for all seasons and holidays. Download the FREE printable Post-it Note To Do List and see for yourself.
Tips for Success
- Real Post-it notes work better than the knock-offs. No, this isn’t a sponsored post, but I’ve observed that my “store brand” sticky notes just don’t stick as well as the real McCoy. Consider this as you shop and maybe snatch up a bunch of new Post-its during the back to school sales that are going on now. Get the 3×3 size.
- The section for “this week” is exactly 3×5 inches. Reader Laurie tipped me off that Post-it does, indeed make 3×5 sizes. I didn’t dig deep enough on their site, apparently. I found a 3×5 pad on Amazon.
- Do you need to use post-its? No, you can use other paper but the bright colors sure are cute!
But wait, there’s more!
What if you had a PLANNER that incorporated all this beauty to help you manage all the things in a quick and easy way?
Over the last few years, I’ve come to love my Post-it Note To Do List system so much, that I worked it into the design of my very favorite organizing tool, the Print & Go Planner.
The planner includes a master copy of the original Post-it Note To Do List as well an weekly adaptation that includes a meal planner. Whoo hoo!
I promise you will love this planner. Click here to learn more.
More Ways to Organize Your Day
What do you think?
I’d be honored if you chimed in the comments section. What do you think?
This post was originally published July 19, 2014. It has been updated for content and clarity.
I Love this idea!!! So it just hit me though, how it would be amazing to use this same system when planning your homeschool year!!! I think this could really change the way things flow in my house… Now I just need to DO it!! Thank you!!
Thank You Again Jessica, This to do list has help me a lot in the past week, it helps me give a break to my brain, i let all the stuff the was wondering in
my head, rest in the sticky notes instead of my brain, its a big relieve.
I use Post-Its on my weekly calendar.
Actual appointments get written into the calendar on the required date. Any other tasks that need done each get their own Post-It. I use the little ones that are about 1×1. I then put the Post-Its on the day I think I’m most likely to be able to get it done.
Invariably, some of these tasks won’t get done when I want them to be done and will have to get rescheduled. That is now as easy as moving the note to the next best day! It’s been working so far but I’ve only been doing this a couple weeks.
Jessica – I found this post on pinterest and I’m BEYOND in love with this idea. I’ve been a lover of to-do lists and post-it notes for years and combining them to make such a simple and helpful to-do list is brilliant! I shared your idea and post on my blog today – hope that’s ok!
http://www.thesunnysideupblog.com/2014/08/post-it-note-to-do-list.html
Thanks for coming up with this! Such a great idea!
Thanks for a great post about the printable! I tried to leave a comment over there but blogger was being really finicky. Hero status?! I’ll take it. Thanks for your kind words. I’m so glad you like my new system. I do, too. PS. I found the 3×5 post-its on Amazon for a buck. I think one pad will last two years. 🙂
I may have to try this for at least a month. I’ve been converted to electronic planners finally, but there’s still a part of me that prefers paper and pencil! Thanks for the idea. :). I love your blog.
I do an interesting combo of digital and paper. I can’t just do one.
This is a great idea! I just started mine today. Thank you!
Love this!!!
One thought though. Wouldn’t you need to print 52 copies of this, since the week spot isn’t a post-it? Just curious as I prep to implement this in our house 😉
It’s in the notes, but not in the picture. I found 3×5 post-its on Amazon. Link is in the post. Then you only need 12 sheets for the year. 🙂
Hi – have you thought about laminating the sheet and using a dry erase marker instead? Just a thought. I love the idea that everything you need to accomplish should fit in a certain size space. That makes a lot of sense to my spacial learning brain.
I’m thinking of laminating but still using post-its. I’ve had problems with dry or wet erase markers rubbing off or getting wet. However, now that I look at my paper with all the stickies on it and my monthlong list, I kinda don’t want to make it erasable. I like seeing that I accomplished something.
My “system” is a little unusual, I make a list on the bathroom mirror. My husband will occasionally add to it before he leaves for work at 3am if there is something he forgot to tell me. With a little one potty training I’m in there a lot so I see the list all day long, and I can focus on what I will do next while the toddler tries. (I hate potty training). This also with accountability, because my husband sees it.
The Dollar Store has a lined yellow knock-off post it that sticks! and fits perfectly into the “this week” column AND two fit into the “this month” FYI for those who have the Dollar Store in their neck of the woods….
Great find! Thank you!