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What Is A “Done List” (And Should You Keep One)?

One of the most common challenges to staying productive over the long run is a lack of motivation. You know the feeling. You run around all day to get things done only to wonder at the end of the day “where the heck did I spend my time?”

Everyone goes through this. Everyone experiences this feeling from time to time. Many experience it on a regular basis.

The results are predictable: frustration, stress, and guilt for failing to complete important, high-value tasks.

A “done list” seeks to fix this problem. It records all of the tasks you accomplish throughout the day. The idea is that seeing the completed tasks will inspire you to get more done. The done list rejuvenates you, filling you with the motivation you need to press onward.

So, does it work? Can a done list actually motivate you to take action?

It depends. If you need motivation to work on tasks, this can be a sound strategy. Your done list will highlight your accomplishments during the day and ensure that you don’t forget about them. In contrast, when you work from a to-do list, crossing off tasks as you complete them, it’s easy to overlook how much you’ve actually gotten done.

On the other hand, if you don’t need motivation to take action, a done list may be unnecessary. In fact, it may even hurt your productivity since it’s another list for you to manage. It will needlessly encumber your to-do list system.

If you’re not sure whether a done list will help you to get things done, I recommend that you experiment with it. Maintain a done list for two weeks and note how it influences you. If you discover that it has a positive impact on your productivity, keep using it. Otherwise, drop it. Remember, the point of this entire action guide is to create a to-do list system that works for you.

In the next section, I’ll explain how to create a done list. It’s drop-dead simple.