To do or not to do? It’s not actually a legitimate question. Let’s face it, the sh** on your to-do list needs doing, or it wouldn’t be on your list. The real question is how to get it done without developing full-blown “To-Do List anxiety”.
Never fear. The Luchadora Litigator is here to soothe those concerns and fight that scary list on your behalf. Here’s how we tame the beast.
1. Stare Into the Abyss (aka Know Your Beast Incarnate)
I know, putting everything on the list is scary. But you know what’s worse? Missing a key deadline because you didn’t even realise the task was there.
So, time to get that inbox open and scan it for tasks. Doesn’t matter what that task is: Finishing a report, sending a client email, or guillotining that backing paper for the classroom display. Doesn’t matter what it is, get it on the list.
2. Categorise the Chaos
Once you’ve got that big, scary list, you need to look at it. Don’t hide it in a drawer like it’s some sort of poisonous snake.
Forget the corporate “Do, Defer, Delegate” system. I use: Urgent, Do It Later, and Do It One Day. Go through your list and label every single item. You will need to be ruthless—not everything can be “Urgent”. This helps put all the tasks in context so you can see what actually matters.
3. Kill Multitasking. Seriously.
When it comes to your (now categorised) urgent tasks, do not divide your attention. Pick ONE item from that list and make sure your focus for that day is that one item. Ignore everything else.
The key is to not let your attention get divided. You might think you’re a jack of all trades, but you’ll end up a master of none. You’ll produce poor-quality work that gets you a bad reputation or, worse, means you have to do it all over again (thus adding to your to-do list. See the problem?).
4. Tidy Up Before the Bell
It’s the end of the day. You’ve made it through another day of screaming clients, screaming kids, or screaming patients (all jobs seem to involve unnecessary screaming). All you want is that well-deserved glass of wine… I mean, nice cup of cocoa.
But before you do, help out “Future You” by going back to that dreaded list.
Tackle it head-on. Go through each item and check if it’s still in the right category. Maybe that “urgent” thing isn’t so urgent anymore, or (more likely) that thing you had a week to do has suddenly become a 4:59 pm emergency. This isn’t about staying late to finish it. “Tomorrow You” will just be grateful to log on with a clear focus.
A final warning: Remember that there will always be more work. Your reward for ticking things off your to-do list is not the medal you deserve; it is, in fact, yet more work being added.
5. Repeat Ad Infinitum
This is the boring bit. You have to keep doing the above over and over until it becomes a habit. At that point, it won’t feel like a chore. It will just be part of your natural work routine, like getting that morning coffee or turning on the laptop.
*BONUS ROUND*
As we advance into the digital age, we have more apps to help us with admin. I find a combination of a list on my Remarkable (lets me scribble in the heat of the moment) and Lupl is my go-to. Lupl calendar-tracks long-term items and sub-tasks. (Full disclosure: I may have a pair of luscious Lupl green socks, just in case anyone thinks there’s a conflict of interest…)
But there’s also Google Keep, Microsoft Teams tasks, or OneNote all of which I have used successfully at one time or another. Whatever feels right for you, even if that’s good ol’ pen and paper, just be consistent.
Takedown Checklist
- Stare Into the Abyss (Know your list)
- Categorise the Chaos (Label your list)
- Kill Multitasking (Pick 1 thing a day)
- Tidy Up Before the Bell (Revisit your list at the end of the day)
- Lather, rinse and repeat
Luchadora Litigator 
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