## TLDR

1. Create or update a task/note as your _"True North"_.
2. Delete old task that doesn't align with your current _"True North"_, Also rephrase/separate hard, un-actionable, un-enjoyable, or complex task.
3. Orginize:
	1. Group and move task to projects / tags.
	2. Sequence tasks
	3. Give priority to tasks
	4. Give each tasks a due date and duration estimation

## 1. Before you start, visualize your destination

Before you even start looking at your tasks, write down what having a neatly organized and prioritized to-do list would mean for your life. Maybe you want to run a successful business, get in shape, be more present with your family, have closer relationships with friends, or lead a more adventurous life.

Find a medium that lets you truly envision the details. You can describe it in words, mind map it, draw it out, create a Pinterest board, collect YouTube videos, or brainstorm in whatever form suits you.

But don't stop there. "Your next step is to identify why you want to live like that."

Why do you want to get in shape? The answer might be "to have more energy and feel more confident." Why do you want to have more energy and feel more confident? Maybe the answer is "to be more fully yourself and stop worrying about what other people think of you." Ask yourself "why" 3-5 times for every item in your vision.

> As you continue to explore the reasons behind your ideal lifestyle, you will come to a simple realization. The whole point in both discarding and keeping things is to be happy. It may seem obvious, but it is important to experience this realization for yourself and let it sink into your heart. Before you start tidying, look at the lifestyle you aspire to and ask yourself, “Why do I want to tidy?”

Keep your "why" top-of-mind as you tidy and after by creating task/note that represents your final vision. If you have an accompanying document or image, link to it from your task or attach it to your task/note comments. This is the _"True North"_ that will help you determine whether a task is worth doing. If you’ve written out an all-encompassing vision, break it down into [several goals for each area of your life](https://todoist.com/inspiration/goals-todoist/), and create a task for each.

You may want to give your task a recurring due date to review the vision you set out for yourself at the start of each day.
## 2. Finish discarding first

Right now, your todo's may be stuffed with half-baked ideas, empty projects, and tasks you forgot to check off.

You need to do a full cleanup of the task and cut out the non essential things that doesn't align with your _"True North"_. And yes, you need to let some stuff go so you can focus on the stuff you **actually want/need to do**.

Letting go of old tasks and projects teaches you how to create space for what’s important to you now. As you go through your old tasks, acknowledge that there was a purpose when you added it, but it’s no longer relevant to the life you’re striving for today.

You’re going to run into tasks that you _want_ to delete, but let’s face it, grunt work is necessary for any significant achievement. Try reframing the tasks that don’t excite you. While “run every day” may feel like a chore, “try to run a 10-minute mile today” may be a more specific and motivating challenge.

For work like taking out the trash or doing your taxes, create a separate project called “responsibilities” and pare it down to the things that, while they don’t bring you joy, you just have to do anyway. This is a good exercise to check in on and see how much of your to-do list is things you _get_ to do vs. things you _have_ to do.

## 3. Give every task a place

Now is time to organize the tasks, use any method that makes sense to you, this can be:

- Move tasks to projects
- Group tasks within a list inside a project
- Use a kanban board to organize the status
- Add a tag to a task

### Some stuff to keep in mind while orginizing

#### Keep your projects visible

At this point, it’s tempting to start creating a bunch of sub-projects that you can hide from view. Just as seeing every physical object you own keeps you from accumulating too much stuff, seeing every project you’ve committed to can be a helpful reminder to stay focused on what’s important and not let new tasks and projects clutter up your list.

#### Sequence your tasks

A great way to stay in the flow of a project is to finish one task and immediately move on to the next. Take the time to sequence your tasks in a logical order before you get to work.

#### Add priorities  

There are some tasks that are more essential to your goal than others. Set task priorities to keep track of which is which is a must.

Task can be categorized with the folliwing priorities

| Level | Name | Meaning |
| - | - | - |
| 0 | non-processed | The only task with no priority should be the non processed, if they exist for too long, they are not important, delete them. |
| 1 | **High** | Must finish ASAP. |
| 2 | **Medium** | Needs to be done, the default. |
| 3 | Low | Finish if there is time available, can wait. |

#### Give each task a due date  

Finally, set a date to complete each task. A handy tip is to make an estimate for how long a task will take to complete and then double it. It’s better to overestimate and finish early than to underestimate and finish late. Give each task a due date and schedule repeating tasks with a recurring due date.

## Make sure your to-do list “sparks joy”

Aesthetics affect our mindset. Give your todo's a style that will put you in a positive mindset whenever you open it. Here are a few tips:

- Write clear, specific, and motivating project and task titles. For example, instead of naming your task “Go for a jog,” try “Take a morning jog through the forest” or “Explore a new running route today”
- Add text formatting and emojis to give them life: “Take a morning jog through the forest 🌅🏃🌲”
- Use a color theme that matches your style or mood
- Arrange your projects in an intuitive way
- Continually let go of the projects and tasks that don't excite you

## Resources

- [The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Your To-Do List](https://todoist.com/inspiration/life-changing-magic-tidying-todoist)