How About a Meaningful To-Do List?
TL;DR
Pick just 3 key items to focus on daily — no more.
Add a column: “Why This Matters” to ground your motivation.
Use a Backlog column to catch other ideas without derailing you.
Track partial progress with a Milestone column (e.g., "half drafted").
👉 Here is a copy of the Google Sheet template (sneak peak below)
Meaningful ToDo List tip: You can print the list and have it easy to see on your desk.
I’ve used nearly every task manager, productivity system, and app you can imagine. And while many helped for a time, I always drifted back into overcommitment, list-bloat, or ignoring the tools completely.
Eventually, I realized that for me — and for the kind of people I coach — the most powerful system is also the simplest:
A plain ol’ spreadsheet…
With three meaningful tasks per day.
Why Only Three TASKS?
Because three tasks done with intention can shift your whole week. More than three? You’re back in fantasy mode, piling on guilt disguised as productivity.
My recent "innovation" is that I've added two columns to my basic todo list. I’ve also forced myself to limit my list to only 3 items. If I get them all done, I can, of course, make a new list.
In my list example above, I added a "Why this is meaningful (to me)?" column.
The Column That Changed Everything:
“Why this matters” transformed my motivation
When I added a “Why This Matters” column, everything clicked. I’d see something like:
ToDo “Send press kit radio station”
Why? “Because I believe in the mission, and this could lead to future gigs.”
Suddenly, the task wasn’t a chore — it was a value-aligned action.
Backlog = mental breathing room
We all have a dozen other things flying at us each day.
That’s where the Backlog column comes in.
It’s a safe place for everything that’s not urgent — because as the saying goes:
“If not urgent, it must wait.”
You’ll be amazed how many of those backlog items never needed your attention in the first place.
Since I get a lot of new ideas, upgrades and random thoughts. By writing them down, I don’t have to act on them and can let them go “for now” and perhaps forever.
Milestones Keep the Momentum Real
Progress isn’t all-or-nothing. Adding a Milestone column helps you recognize movement:
“Newsletter outline done”
“Verse written, chorus rough”
It’s especially useful for big, creative projects that don’t wrap in one day.
Make It Yours
I’ve used this system with coaching clients, workshop attendees, and fellow musicians. It works whether you’re building a business, writing a book, or just trying to carve out time to be human.
👉 Make your own copy of the Meaningful To‑Do List template now
Prompts:
What’s one task you’ve added to your backlog today?
Leave a comment—I’d love to hear what you’re letting wait for later.
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Or explore other posts like Everything Is Compost on Substack and The Talent Trap for creatives walking the long road.
