Here's why it can be better for your well-being...
Have you ever reached the end of a busy day feeling like you've achieved absolutely nothing? Or perhaps you've stared at your to-do list, feeling a creeping sense of inadequacy as the unticked boxes seem to multiply before your eyes?
Life often feels like an exercise in perpetual catching up. Between lectures, assignments, jobs, and maintaining some semblance of a social life (and don't forget self-care!), there's always more to do than time allows. But what if we've been approaching productivity and self-worth from entirely the wrong angle?
Oliver Burkeman, author of 'Four Thousand Weeks' and 'Meditations for Mortals', suggests a refreshingly different approach: the 'Done' list. Unlike its demanding cousin, the to-do list, a Done list starts empty each morning and gradually fills with your accomplishments throughout the day – no matter how small they might seem.
The beauty of a Done list lies in its inherent positivity. Rather than confronting an intimidating catalogue of uncompleted tasks, you're creating a growing testament to your daily efforts. Had a particularly challenging morning? Getting dressed, making your bed, or brewing that essential cup of tea or coffee all count as legitimate achievements. The Done list acknowledges that productivity isn't always about grand gestures or revolutionary breakthroughs.
This shift in perspective can be particularly valuable during term time, when academic pressures often lead to unrealistic expectations. We're bombarded with messages about maximising productivity, optimising study techniques, and constantly pushing ourselves harder. It can be exhausting.
The Done list offers a gentler, more honest approach to tracking progress. It recognises that some days, simply attending lectures and taking coherent notes is a significant achievement. Other days, you might surprise yourself by completing that challenging assignment ahead of schedule. Both scenarios deserve acknowledgment.
Beyond boosting your morale, this approach can actually enhance your decision-making about where to focus your energy. When you're not constantly haunted by an endless to-do list, you can make clearer choices about what truly matters. Perhaps more importantly, you'll likely find yourself more engaged with the tasks at hand, rather than being distracted by anxiety about everything else waiting to be done.
There's also something powerful about acknowledging the invisible work that fills our days – the emails answered, the reading you've completed, the group project contributions made. These small actions, often overlooked in traditional productivity systems, form the backbone of our academic progress.
The Done list isn't about lowering standards or accepting mediocrity. Instead, it's about recognising that progress often comes in small, consistent increments, and that showing up, even when motivation is low, is itself a form of achievement. It's about building a more sustainable, self-compassionate relationship with productivity.
So, next time you're feeling overwhelmed by everything you haven't done yet, try flipping the script. Start with an empty page (literal or mental), and watch it fill with evidence of your efforts, no matter how modest they might seem. You might find that, by focusing on what you've accomplished rather than what's still undone, the path forward becomes a little clearer, and a lot more manageable.
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Read more: Oliver Burkeman's article on the Done list (click here)
