At this point, we’re stacking skills. A few weeks ago, we dove into writing, and now we’re getting even more specific: Todo Lists.

We all need to get things done, and one of the easiest ways to do it is by making a list.

I know, I know—here I go again, talking about writing. What a shocker, right? The writer telling you to do more writing. Well, it should tell you just how important I think it is. There’s a reason why writing things down holds so much power. It’s not just about putting words on paper; it’s about giving your brain the freedom to focus on what really matters.

Yes, I’m biased, but let’s keep moving.

I came across something interesting once: Mark Zuckerberg wore the same clothes every day for a while. Not the exact same clothes, but the same set. Imagine buying 100 identical shirts, 100 pairs of shoes, and so on. That’s how he eliminated the daily decision of “What should I wear today?” To some, this might sound genius; to others, absurd. Personally, I’m in the “genius” camp. Here’s why.

Zuckerberg’s logic behind this? He wanted to free his mind from trivial decisions so he could focus on bigger, more important ones—like changing the world. And this is exactly where the Todo List Theory comes in.

Our minds are incredible—they’re built to create, innovate, and adapt. But like any tool, they have flaws. One of the biggest? Forgetting things. Even the sharpest minds forget things from time to time.

Enter the todo list. Creating a list of tasks works the same way Zuckerberg’s uniform strategy does. When you write things down, you no longer have to rely on your mind to remember every little task. That mental energy can now go toward things that truly matter. Whether you use your phone’s Notes app, Reminders app, or just a good old-fashioned pen and paper, your list does the remembering for you.

And once you’ve got that list in place, the only reason you’ll forget something is if it simply wasn’t on the list—or if you just didn’t have the motivation to do it. But here’s the thing: the real challenge is building the habit of writing everything down. Start getting into the routine of checking off tasks daily, and before you know it, not forgetting things will become second nature. The result? You become more reliable, more trustworthy, and, most importantly, more efficient and productive.

So the next time you find yourself staring down a mountain of tasks, remember this: a simple list just might be the secret weapon you need to take control of your day.