7 min read
2026-01-22
The human brain is poor at storing unfinished tasks — this is known as the "Zeigarnik effect." Incomplete tasks create background stress and distract you. By offloading tasks to a list, you free up mental resources.
Wrong: "Project." Right: "Write the project plan by Friday."
No more than 5-7 tasks per day. Long lists are demotivating and create a sense of impossibility.
| Urgent | Not Urgent | |
|---|---|---|
| **Important** | Do immediately | Schedule |
| **Not Important** | Delegate | Eliminate |
In the morning, identify your 3 Most Important Tasks (MITs)
Start with the hardest task ("eat the frog")
Check off completed tasks — it releases dopamine
In the evening, carry over unfinished tasks to tomorrow
Review and clean up the list weekly
Divide tasks by area: work, personal, study, health. This helps maintain life balance.
Start planning with our To-Do List.
See also: Pomodoro Timer, Notes