Some people say they don’t need to write a to-do list, they can remember everything they need to do for the day.

Maybe they can. Maybe they have just 3 or 4 things they need to do and they do pretty much the same things every day.

But most people are busier than that.

Can you remember all of the calls you need to return tomorrow? Do you know what your email inbox will bring, which new cases or clients will show up, which issues you will have to deal with?

Every day may be basically the same, but every day is different. And if you don’t write things down, you won’t remember.

The value of a written list, however, isn’t just the list itself. The value is in the process of making the list.

Writing a to-do list forces you to think about your goals and obligations and choose your priorities for the day or week. Thinking and writing leads to clarity and clarity leads to commitment, and what good is a goal or obligation if you’re not committed?

Writing things down also decreases anxiety. You know what you will do that day, and what you won’t do. You know you won’t forget something important, or be overwhelmed with too many boxes to tick.

You’ve already thought things through and you can focus on execution.

When do you make this list? You make it before your day (or week) begins. When the current day is over and you are no longer “executing,” you plan the following day. Give yourself ten minutes each afternoon or evening to review your calendar and your other lists and decide what you want tomorrow to look like.

And write that down.

Now, here’s the million dollar secret to making your list work for you instead of the other way around.

When tomorrow begins and you’re working your way through your list and calls and emails and letters come in, when you remember other things you need to do, don’t do them.

Write them down on the list for tomorrow or later in the week or next week.

You have a list for today. Work on that list today.

If you finish today’s list and you have time, you can look at tomorrow’s list and start working on it. But only if you want to.

It’s your decision. Your list works for you, not the other way around.