Have you ever stopped to write down a to-do list when you were stressed and felt better for it?
On the other hand, maybe once you start writing you find it hard to stop… and the enormous list makes you even more stressed!
The WAY we write our to-do lists affects whether they help or hinder our stress levels.
Read on to discover how to level up your to-do lists to reduce stress and help prevent burnout.
Tip 1: ‘Chunk’ bigger items into smaller to-dos
It’s easier to tackle a to-do list of many small tasks rather than a list of a few large tasks.
Why?
Let’s say you’ve got a big stack of case notes to catch up on. (Many of us won’t have to imagine…)
If you write down “case notes”, what’s the bet you’ll balk at this enormous task and choose something easier to do whenever you look at your list?
We’re all guilty of it!
Instead, if we break large tasks down into smaller, less daunting ‘chunks’ (i.e. its individual steps), the list might look longer – but much less threatening.
After all, it’s a lot easier to cross off “update Sharlene’s case notes” than to complete the ambiguous (and seemingly never-ending) “case notes”.
Plus, a bunch of smaller tasks means more opportunities to feel the satisfaction of crossing items off 😉
Tip 2: Keep stress low with a realistic to-do list
No one likes having more tasks to do than time to do them.
Unreasonable workload is a common (and significant) contributor to burnout, so it’s an important one to address:
If the length of your to-do list is causing you stress, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Pick out the most urgent tasks that MUST get done today. Can you realistically complete them all today?
- If so, great! The rest of your list then serves as additional ‘bonus’ items you can get to after the urgent tasks – but it’s not the end of the world if not, so you can end your day in a good place either way.
- If not, delegate some to other people or another day.
Delegating can be tricky, especially if your workplace is understaffed. But burning out will only make that problem worse!
So instead of feeling stressed, guilty and/or disappointed at the end of each day – break the cycle by setting realistic to-do lists we can realistically complete!
How else do you use your to-do list to reduce stress at work? Tag your friends in the industry and share your experiences below – we’d love to hear from you.
Be. Recruitment is your specialist recruitment partner in the health and social care sector. If you’re looking to take the next step in your social care career, or want to fill your organisation’s vacancies with quality talent, have a chat with our expert consultants today.
