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Put Your Daily Tasks Into These 4 Categories if You Want to Systemize Your To-Do List

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Who doesn’t like to get stuff done? Getting stuff done feels great because it takes you a little bit closer to achieving your long term goals, and it allows you to cultivate a feeling of being productive while making a difference in the world.

There’s a certain feeling of achievement that comes from checking off each item on a to-do list, sort of like vanquishing your enemies before declaring victory over your day. At the very least, it stops you from feeling like a useless couch potato.

I have been slightly obsessed with getting stuff done since before I was a kid in school, planning out my days with the precision reserved for most aeronautical engineers. However, as I grew older, my daily to-do lists grew larger and less manageable.

Today, the story is different, and I rarely manage to complete all the tasks I’ve outlined. Unfortunately, try as I might, I rarely make it through the monumental to-do list I have made in my notebook.

While most of us try our very best to get work done in a timely way, we often struggle to accurately predict just how much time individual tasks might take. We may complete some tasks in the blink of an eye, while other activities may take twice as long as initially predicted.

Thankfully, there is a way to systematically divide your to-do list into segments so as to improve the likelihood that you will get the most important activities, often called “high value tasks,” done before moving on to other tasks of less importance.

First, if you haven’t done this already, practice writing out a list of activities that need to be done. Below we’ll go over the four categories you can put your tasks in:

1. Urgent and important

Look at your list of to-do’s and highlight which ones are most important and urgent. You should try to highlight between 3-5 activities which are so urgent that they need to be completed right away. If you need help, try asking yourself these questions: What do you need to do right now? What needs to get done in the next 24 hours?

Think about what barriers are keeping you from reaching the next stage in your personal growth or development. What tasks need to be completed to get you more information or allow you to take action? Maybe you need to speak to someone about a product idea, or perhaps you need advice on how to respond to a client.

This list of activities should include things that are so important that you literally cannot do anything else without completing them first. This may mean working on a report that is due today or sending a follow up email to a boss or client who is waiting for a reply.

“Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list.” – Patti Digh

2. Time sensitive but less important

Next, look over your to-do list and select the activities that are time sensitive but are less important than the 3-5 “urgent and important” activities. This may be updating your CRM system, planning sales calls, or arranging a marketing campaign. These activities are still necessary to achieve your goals, and they have a definite timeline. Try to keep this second group to between 7-10 activities.

One thing to be wary of when developing this list is to avoid tasks that are simply “busy work.” This type of task should be delegated or automated as much as possible to avoid burnout and allow you to focus on strategic, higher-level activities.

3. Important but not time sensitive

These activities are just as important as those in the first group, but they may require more time and more effort than those urgent and important activities. This may include reworking your business plan, developing a new product launch strategy, or arranging to hire new employees.

“I made a huge to do list for today. I just can’t figure out who’s going to do it.” – Anonymous

4. Not important and not urgent

Activities in this group should be considered “like to have” tasks. These are activities and tasks that would be nice to make time for, but aren’t required for success.

No matter how you approach your daily activities, tackling your tasks in a way that allows you to prioritize what is most important to you will be key to developing a deeper understanding of how you work and how you can make yourself more effective.

How do you prioritize your to-do list? Let us know below!

McVal is the founder of We Write For Growth, a platform for businesses to connect with talented writers and researchers and growth hackers. He is also the author of How to Make $2,000 a Month Online and Start Up your Life: Why we don’t know what we want, and how to set goals that really matter. McVal writes about motivation, decision making, and strategic thinking. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2011 with a degree in Spanish, and has since worked as a market researcher and business consultant in Washington D.C., New York City and London. You can reach him on Twitter @mcval or on IG @mcvaliant. 

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Change Your Mindset

The One Leadership Habit That Separates the Great From the Forgettable

True leaders don’t just speak their values, they live them, proving that integrity is the foundation of lasting influence.

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Life

9 Harsh Truths Every Young Man Must Face to Succeed in the Modern World

Before chasing success, every young man needs to face these 9 brutal realities shaping masculinity in the modern world.

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Many young men today quietly battle depression, loneliness, and a sense of confusion about who they’re meant to be.

Some blame the lack of deep friendships or romantic relationships. Others feel lost in a digital world that often labels traditional masculinity as “toxic.”

But the truth is this: becoming a man in the modern age takes more than just surviving. It takes resilience, direction, and a willingness to grow even when no one’s watching.

Success doesn’t arrive by accident or luck. It’s built on discipline, sacrifice, and consistency.

Here are 9 harsh truths every young man should know if he wants to thrive, not just survive, in the digital age.

1. Never Use Your Illness as an Excuse

As Dr. Jordan B. Peterson often says, successful people don’t complain; they act.

Your illness, hardship, or struggle shouldn’t define your limits; it should define your motivation. Rest when you must, but always get back up and keep building your dreams. Motivation doesn’t appear magically. It comes after you take action.

Here are five key lessons I’ve learned from Dr. Peterson:

  • Learn to write clearly; clarity of thought makes you dangerous.

  • Read quality literature in your free time.

  • Nurture a strong relationship with your family.

  • Share your ideas publicly; your voice matters.

  • Become a “monster”, powerful, but disciplined enough to control it.

The best leaders and thinkers are grounded. They welcome criticism, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward no matter what.

2. You Can’t Please Everyone And That’s Okay

You don’t need a crowd of people to feel fulfilled. You need a few friends who genuinely accept you for who you are.

If your circle doesn’t bring out your best, it’s okay to walk away. Solitude can be a powerful teacher. It gives you space to understand what you truly want from life. Remember, successful men aren’t people-pleasers; they’re purpose-driven.

3. You Can Control the Process, Not the Outcome

Especially in creative work, writing, business, or content creation, you control effort, not results.

You might publish two articles a day, but you can’t dictate which one will go viral. Focus on mastery, not metrics. Many great writers toiled for years in obscurity before anyone noticed them. Rejection, criticism, and indifference are all part of the path.

The best creators focus on storytelling, not applause.

4. Rejection Is Never Personal

Rejection doesn’t mean you’re unworthy. It simply means your offer, idea, or timing didn’t align.

Every successful person has faced rejection repeatedly. What separates them is persistence and perspective. They see rejection as feedback, not failure. The faster you learn that truth, the faster you’ll grow.

5. Women Value Comfort and Security

Understanding women requires maturity and empathy.

Through books, lectures, and personal growth, I’ve learned that most women desire a man who is grounded, intelligent, confident, emotionally stable, and consistent. Some want humor, others intellect, but nearly all want to feel safe and supported.

Instead of chasing attention, work on self-improvement. Build competence and confidence, and the rest will follow naturally.

6. There’s No Such Thing as Failure, Only Lessons

A powerful lesson from Neuro-Linguistic Programming: failure only exists when you stop trying.

Every mistake brings data. Every setback builds wisdom. The most successful men aren’t fearless. They’ve simply learned to act despite fear.

Be proud of your scars. They’re proof you were brave enough to try.

7. Public Speaking Is an Art Form

Public speaking is one of the most valuable and underrated skills a man can master.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about connection. The best speakers tell stories, inspire confidence, and make people feel seen. They research deeply, speak honestly, and practice relentlessly.

If you can speak well, you can lead, sell, teach, and inspire. Start small, practice at work, in class, or even in front of a mirror, and watch your confidence skyrocket.

8. Teaching Is Leadership in Disguise

Great teachers are not just knowledgeable. They’re brave, compassionate, and disciplined.

Teaching forces you to articulate what you know, and in doing so, you master it at a deeper level. Whether you’re mentoring a peer, leading a team, or sharing insights online, teaching refines your purpose.

Lifelong learners become lifelong leaders.

9. Study Human Nature to Achieve Your Dreams

One of the toughest lessons to accept: most people are self-interested.

That’s not cynicism, it’s human nature. Understanding this helps you navigate relationships, business, and communication more effectively.

Everyone has a darker side, but successful people learn to channel theirs productively into discipline, creativity, and drive.

Psychology isn’t just theory; it’s a toolkit. Learn how people think, act, and decide, and you’ll know how to lead them, influence them, and even understand yourself better.

Final Thoughts

The digital age offers endless opportunities, but only to those who are willing to take responsibility, confront discomfort, and keep improving.

Becoming a man today means embracing the hard truths most avoid.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about luck. It’s about who you become when life tests you the most.

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