May 6th 2025

People often ask me:

​“Wait… you don’t use to-do lists?”​
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Nope. Haven’t for years.

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Not because I’m naturally organized (I’m not).
And not because I don’t have a lot on my plate (I do).
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Here’s what I’ve learned: to-do lists don’t account for time.
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We write down 10 tasks… but don’t consider:
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• One might take 5 minutes
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• Another might take 5 hours
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• And a few might need focused, interruption-free blocks of time
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So what do we do?

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We gravitate toward the quick wins – those 5-minute dopamine hits.

And the important, high-impact work?

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That gets bumped again. And again.

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Worse still, unfinished tasks stick with us more than completed ones.
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Psychologists call this the Zeigarnik Effect – those open loops become mental clutter.

That’s why lists can actually increase your stress instead of relieving it.

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Here’s what I do instead:​
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• If it’s a small personal task or follow-up, it goes straight into my calendar
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• If it’s related to a project (mine or a client’s), it lives in Asana, where I can schedule and prioritize it properly
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No separate to-do list. No scattered sticky notes.

Just tasks with time attached.
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This shift is simple – but it changes everything.

EXCLUSIVE FOR READERS:

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Want to see exactly how I make this work week to week?

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​Watch the replay of my workshop, Ditch the Overwhelm + Get Sh!t Done​

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You’re also getting ​the framework and worksheet​ I only share inside the session – designed to help you start each task with intention and mindfulness (not willpower and motivation).

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Here’s what one attendee shared:​
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“I’m having the most productive day I’ve had for ages thanks to my new calendar.”

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 And, if you want a quick intro to this approach, check out this clip.

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Next week, we’ll dig into time tracking – how to reflect, adjust, and reclaim clarity around where your time really goes.
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Talk soon,
Moriah