To-do lists. Whether they are jotted down on a sticky note or racing in your head at 3 am, some lists just feel impossible to tackle.
Often, they are not just work-related. They are about family, boring domestic stuff or things completely out of your control (but you will still try to control it, won’t you?).
So, when I came across an article that showed how to view to-do lists not as a relentless list of chores but as a diner menu, I thought, Get me some of that!
That’s the nugget of wisdom Oliver Burkeman discusses in his work, and it’s a game-changer.
Burkeman, the author behind Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and Meditations for Mortals, has a knack for cutting through the fluff and getting to the heart of what makes us tick.
He points out that all to-do lists are menus in disguise.
Think about it: You’ve got a finite amount of time and an infinite number of ways to spend it. Whether it’s crafting a killer freelance pitch, tackling that mountain of laundry, or finally getting around to that workout, you’re making choices from a selection of possibilities.
Here’s the psychological trick: By consciously treating your list as a menu, you shift your focus from the daunting task of completion to the joy of choosing. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to do, you get to savour the act of picking something that appeals to you in that moment.
The power of choice
This isn’t just about semantics; it’s about reframing your mindset. When you view your to-do list as a menu, you’re acknowledging that you can’t, and shouldn’t, try to do everything. You’re giving yourself permission to choose what’s most meaningful or enjoyable right now.
But what if your to-do list is full of well, crappy stuff. Like doing the laundry or cleaning the kitchen. Chase an invoice, etc.
Sometimes, I add something pleasurable to the mix, like turning the radio on or listening to a podcast while doing blasted boring chores. You could also set a time to complete a task, so you are competing with yourself. Dare yourself to get more done in less time so you can then choose a more pleasurable thing to do next. Be careful, though; I did this once and nearly broke a favourite dish by unloading the dishwasher like Flash Gordon.
As Burkeman writes, the “reward of pleasure in your work, or a sense of meaning, no longer gets doled out stingily, in morsels, en route to some hypothetical moment of future fulfilment when the list is complete, and you can finally feel fully satisfied. Instead, the real reward comes from getting to pick something from the menu – from getting to dive into one of the vast range of possibilities the world has to offer, without any expectation of getting through them all, just like the pleasure of sitting down to a good meal.”
Why will this shift in perspective work?
- Reduced anxiety: Instead of feeling pressured to complete everything, you can focus on enjoying the task at hand.
- Increased motivation: The act of choosing something you want to do can make you more enthusiastic about tackling it.
- Enhanced satisfaction: By focusing on the present moment, you can derive greater satisfaction from each task you complete.
- Better time allocation: This approach encourages you to prioritise tasks based on their importance or enjoyment, rather than simply tackling them in a linear order.
How to turn a to-do list into a diner menu?
- Embrace imperfection: Accept that you’ll never get everything done. That’s okay. It’s about choosing wisely, not achieving the impossible.
- Prioritise with intention: Instead of just writing down tasks, consider why they’re important. What will you gain from completing them?
- Mix it up: Don’t be afraid to switch between different types of tasks. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by work, take a break to do some household chores or go for a walk.
- Savour the moment: When you’re working on a task, focus on enjoying the process. Don’t let your mind wander to the next item on the list.
- Allow some flexibility: Just like a real diner menu, your to-do list should be flexible. If you change your mind or if something unexpected comes up, don’t be afraid to adjust your plans.
By adopting this mindset, you can help stop your to-do list from being a source of stress. With practice, you should find yourself getting more done and actually looking forward to the process.
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Here’s the article that inspired me: Tim Ferriss: For Less Anxiety and More Life, Treat Your To-Do List Like a Diner Menu and Oliver Burkeman’s website.
