You want to use a to-do list not just as a list of tasks, but as a system for forcing you to think about what’s most important to you. First, you want to remind yourself of what your top priority is. What you want in a to-do list or when setting goals is two things. When I was talking to psychologists, they said that’s not using a to-do list for productivity, that’s using it to do what’s called “mood repair,” to make yourself feel good, rather than get things done. Then at the top of the page, I put a bunch of easy things that are simple to do because it felt so good to cross them off when I got to my desk. I would take a couple of big things I want to get done like run a marathon, lose 30 pounds, and put it at the bottom of the page. Most people, myself included, write to-do lists in the wrong way. This really comes from the science of to-do list. Tell us about stretch goal and SMART goal. You stop being reactive and start deciding what you actually want to get done. It’s a way of teaching yourself to think about how we approach certain problems.

The reason anyone can become more productive is because it’s a learned skill. These people became productive because they had to think a little bit more, be choosier about how they spend their time and what they focused on. Where they didn’t have the perfect job, or grew up with parent who were distracted and working all the time. In fact, some of the most productive people come from situations where there’s a little bit of hardship.

It’s not about being particularly smart or having access to resources. What most of the science shows is that anyone can learn to become productive.

You’re either born particularly productive or super smart, or your parents taught you great habits. We tend to think of productivity as an innate skill. The strongest leaders aren’t afraid to change their minds

Charles duhigg faster smarter better