If there never seems to be enough time to get things done, then perhaps it’s time to rethink your approach to accomplishing them.

And if multi-tasking only leaves you with a never ending list of open-ended projects and tasks, then it’s time to let go of the belief that you know how to juggle, and let the balls drop.

Try this list making activity to help you visualize what you need to get done on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Step One: Create the Master List

What has to happen during the course of a month to make your life run smoothly? These are the static tasks, everything from self-care practices (gym, shower, grooming, beauty care, etc) to buying groceries and preparing meals to household chores to paying bills and everything else in between.

Best practices: Go through this list a few times and put a star next to the tasks/activities that are essential to your well-being and quality of life and a question mark next to the tasks/activities that you do not enjoy or do out of obligation. Give the starred tasks priority, and spend some time reassessing why you’re giving your time and energy to tasks/activities you don’t believe in.  Then, stop doing them.

Step Two: Create the Quarterly List

These are things that you need to do every so often, that you usually forget or put off, like annual checkups, membership renewal fees, self-employment taxes, car inspections/tune-ups.

Best practices: Create a window period for these tasks/activities. For example, if your accountant needs your paperwork in by the 15^th, set a deadline for the 1^st so that you’ll have everything in by that date.

Step Three: Create the Monthly To-Do List

Looking at your master list, what are the tasks/activities that only need to happen once a month? List them here.

Best practices: Assign a specific day of the month, e.g. the last Thursday of every month, for each of these tasks so they have their time and place.

Step Four: Create the Weekly List

Now that you have the monthly tasks/activities set aside, what needs to happen once a week?

Best practices: Like the monthly list, assign a specific day to get tasks done, e.g., Saturday is laundry day, Sunday is grocery day, etc.

Step Five: Create the Daily List

What needs to get done day to day?

Best practices: Try to cap this list at five tasks/activities, and do not add anything else to this list as you cross your completed tasks off. You’ll never feel a sense of accomplishment if you have too many tasks on this list or keep adding new ones.

Once you have identified the static tasks/activities that don’t really change from day to week to month, consider getting one of those big dry erase wall calendars to put up and use it to post sticky notes and write in your tasks/activities. This way, you can see them all in one place and have a reminder of what you need to do.

If you have a smartphone, be sure to set reminder timers on your calendar!

And oh yeah, remember to be flexible. Life happens while we’re making lists and plans, and sometimes you just have to go with the flow.