free web page hit counter
🛡️
Copyright Notice: This video is officially sourced and embedded from YouTube. For all copyright inquiries, reports, or removals, please contact YouTube's legal team here.
Tiago Forte

Tiago Forte

387,000 subscribers

👁 171,575 views

7 To-Do List Hacks That Actually Work (No More Overwhelm!)

Video Overview & Insights

Struggling with an endless to-do list? In this video, I reveal 7 simple rules I use to stay on top of my tasks without feeling overwhelmed. From managing energy levels to clearing mental clutter, these tips will help you get more done with less stress. Plus, don't miss my bonus mindset tip at the end—it might just change how you think about productivity forever.

🤓 TEST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL
If you had a Second Brain, how much more organized, effective, calm, and creative could you be?
Take our productivity quiz & find out: https://fortelabs.com/productivity-potential

— @TiagoForte

📈 Join Pillars of Productivity: http://www.pillarsofproductivity.com/

📱 My favorite task manager Things: https://culturedcode.com/things/

yeah same, endless lists get wild. akiflow really helped me manage without the chaos. great vid, some solid tips here too!

— @Nicolas-z3m5n

📚 My favorite read-later app Reader: https://readwise.io/tiago/

CHAPTERS:

Hey Tiago! I'm wondering if you can provide insight into this question I still have (or anyone else): I consistently only plan for 3x tasks max per day at the beginning of the day but....I work a 9-5 job that contains constant emailing back and forth. Sometimes and email will come in that needs actioning that same day OR quickly. Taking into account some proper triage on what emails are "actually important", the reality is that some of those emails do need actioning. So...my list easily grows from 3x tasks to 5,6,7+ throughout the day.

Do you have any tips on how I can effectively handle this? Just seeing my to-do list grow in this way throughout the day starts to take a toll on my motivation...I'm sure you have some cool tips here?!

— @toddtoso8827

00:00 - 00:15 Intro

00:15 - 00:51 Rule 1

the energy level tip is the only one here that actually matters, the rest is just repackaging GTD with a new font. use Akiflow if you want the capture part to actually stick.

— @supermom-g2z

00:51 - 01:24 Rule 2

01:24 - 01:53 Rule 3

Letting go of the need for a "perfect" to-do list really helps stop the procrastination loop.

— @mindful_atrium

01:53 - 02:30 Rule 4

02:30 - 03:23 Rule 5

2-minute rule is counterproductive for ADHD people, as counterproductive as Pomodoro technique etc

— @DanielaADHDBeWell

03:23 - 04:00 Rule 6

04:00 - 04:32 Rule 7

yeah same, the energy matching tip is the one i keep forgetting. Akiflow actually helps me see that at a glance which is the only reason i remember it now.

— @Markussolomun

04:32 - 05:35 Bonus rule

05:35 - 06:28 Pillars of Productivity

I like the idea that you shared ❤
Thank you

— @sandraburkey5931

-----------------------

💌 Join our weekly newsletter for more productivity tips and resources https://fortelabs.com/subscribe/

What happens when you dont have a high energy period? Im 67 and I rarely see high energy times anymore. But I still have a to do list.

— @Life_With_Lady

📚ORDER MY BEST-SELLING BOOKS

🧠 Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential: [https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/book](https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/book#order-now)

For half of the video I was thinking you were created by Ai.
Only after seeing your youtube silver button I believed you are a human . Great video.❤

— @madrasimedia2999

📂The PARA Method: Simplify, Organize, and Master Your Digital Life: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/para

👩‍🎓 TAKE MY SELF-PACED COURSES

Which app is it ?

— @PiyushRajput-g3r

1️⃣ Pillars of Productivity: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/pop

2️⃣ BASB Foundation: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/foundation

Too techy for me. Having things on my phone just stresses me out more! I'm happy to have a list on my phone of tv shows or movies i want to watch, but for important things, I prefer to write them in a physical notebook. I don't want to be "carrying" around that stuff in my phone. That's just me, though.

— @patrickdoherty4527

🤓 TEST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL

Take our Productivity Pulse Check to evaluate your daily habits and find out where you can make improvements. Take the quiz now: https://fortelabs.typeform.com/pulsecheck?utm_source=youtube

The bonus tip alone deserves a full video. Letting go of guilt around unfinished tasks is such an important mindset shift. Thank you.

— @AbdullahKassha

👋 CONNECT WITH ME

📬 My weekly newsletter: https://fortelabs.com/subscribe

this video made productivity feel less stressful and actually doable for once 💯

— @Rafaelldduarte

👩‍💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiagoforte/

🌐 My website: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/

Are you half white half Asian? You kinda look like Elon musk

— @11ellie7

💌 My blog: https://fortelabs.com/blog/

🐦‍⬛ X: http://x.com/fortelabs

Omg elon musk you look like elon 😂❤❤❤

— @TEJASVSONI-q9r

🟦 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortelabs

🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortelabsco/

3 tasks per day is hilarious 😹

— @skaterdude14b

More User Perspectives

@

What’s that to do app you’re using?

@AmalRafeeq
@

What app do you use?

@sanketsharma0113
@

You can prioritize your own tasks and choose to do 3 per day for example, that’s fine! But what about when some of the tasks that you need to accomplish are not necessarily yours to decide? Let’s assume for a moment that you have selected your 3 priority tasks for the day and later comes your boss and requests you to do something that was completely out of your scope… that breaks your focus and you need to reorganize and prioritize again. Your recommendation seems to fit when you are in total control of your activities, but do you have a suggestion for the situation I just mentioned?

@KurosakiYasutora
@

This to-do list system is very helpful for staying organized, thanks for the tips!")।

@MdNayem-vj4qh
@

Dude says content consumption doesn't even go on the list, then concludes the video with a book rec...

@apostateturtle1960
@

GTD é vida

@productivity1006
@

Poor mans Elon Musk

@SuvroRay-q7t
@

goated

@zachhbtww
@

Very nicely done.

@CaroleDMercur
@

Nicely explained and easy to understand.

@FuntaDonta
@

Very clear and concise explanation.

@NoinsMualy
@

This content is very high quality.

@IygfZadc
@

Simple and effective explanation.

@shanoncjack
@

Would you recommend daily tasks going in this list or kept separate?

@Heatherd1116
@

Clear and easy to follow.

@RosarioMestro
@

This was really informative and easy to follow, great work explaining everything clearly

@NishantMalhotra-c6c
@

Really good content, keep it up.

@FugGehe
@

That was really impressive.

@NiNguyen-o7p
@

Good job on this video.

@DhhdhdSgjshsv
@

This was so clear and simple.

@GogeBaily
@

Another thing I'd personally suggest to people with perfectionist tendencies is to let the urge to make your to-do lists 'perfect' go away. You don't have to have a super, neat and tidy list ready for the day. It doesnt have to be that put together, infact, if you attempt at it, you might just procrastinate more.

@Ashley-nq5lx
@

0:05 I don't think I want that "surprisingly powerful bonus tip", bro! 😂

@slimeminem7402
@

The delivery was great.

@GilbertoKuhl-q6r
@

I love the sticky note Hell you presented in the third minute of the video. I don't "kick the can down the road" by moving a task to "tomorrow". I delete it and check in "tomorrow" to see if it is still relevant.

@harrywoodell7008
@

For movies and tv shows, I have a list. If someone recommends something or I see a trailer somewhere and it catches my eye, it goes on the list. If I have time or feel like watching something, I pick one at random and watch it. No scrolling for ages, just pick and go.

Rather than having them as a to-do that feels like an obligation, I treat it like a resource for when I want it.

@RedPixelMage
@

@tiagoForte I love the information you provide. Always insightful. Some problems arise with ADHD sometimes. For instance the 2 minute rule. If one where to attempt to knock out a simple task that only takes a couple minutes... it's limitless to the distraction that would ensue because it's a type of task switching. I'm interested to see if integrating in a "quick list" for simple quick tasks would be of benefit. "when you get up and want to knock out some things to build momentum" saving those things for a boost of energy to get out of a rut maybe...? Thanks again!

@SmokyMountainTech
@

What task manager do you use?

@bardcorebush
@

Ого, секундомер Агат на 0:55 😁

@AtomskJD
@

-2 minute rule,do any task that can take less time righy away when it comes to mind
-priotise three most important tasks per day
-Do tough tasks in the morning when energetic

@thokowindow2364
@

task 001 : get a pillow to prevent stiff neck after hammock @04:17

@ovunctezer7435
@

Very helpful!

@ZebraMDpodcast
@

3:24 🗒Tip for peeling off Stick-It notes without curling: Pull them downward (toward you), not upward. It might not feel intuitive, but the note will stay nice and flat.

@sansvital
@

Is this Elon’s little brother?

@EB-gt1pq