Turn Your to-Do List Into a to-Do Calendar
Do you always install an air conditioner on a hot summer day, or are you in a rush to pay your taxes in mid-April? For such absolutely necessary tasks, a to-do list is not always sufficient. You need to set aside time on your calendar and treat these tasks like real appointments. We’ve listed all the best things to do to turn into calendar items.
Household chores
- Rare household chores : flipping the mattress and couch cushions, inspecting your car, using your annual free credit report , cleaning the pool, trimming pet nails, and replacing toothbrushes, razors, smoke detector batteries, air fresheners, and water filters.
- Frequent activities you forget or put off, such as washing, cleaning up the trash, cutting hair, moving your car, donating blood, watering your plants, cleaning (and backing up) your computer, and changing sheets.
- Paying taxes (and paying the quarterly estimate if you’re a freelancer)
- Invoices that are not automatically paid
- Winterizing your home : finding air leaks, removing the air conditioner, checking your stove, and running the ceiling fans clockwise.
- Booking trips weeks in advance
- Doctor, Dentist, and Veterinarian Visits: Schedule a recurring event two months from the date of appointment.
- Use your calendar as a diary for doctor visits: Record results (such as your blood pressure and weight) in the appointment calendar event. Also, write down any recurring symptoms so you can accurately report them on your next visit.
Shopping
- Warranty expiration dates: As soon as you buy something, set a reminder a few weeks before the warranty expires, says Redditor vaidab . “You may find (accumulate) some problems that are covered by the warranty.”
- Cancellation dates for free trials and subscriptions
- Validity of coupons, gift certificates and discount codes
- Return dates, especially for online purchases
Life events
- Birthdays: Turn on the automatic Google or Facebook birthday calendar, then add 30-day notifications for buying gifts or sending cards.
- Election days, especially little-known local elections
- Make a “children’s book” calendar to record your child’s milestones, suggests Lifehacker reader jeff.c.taylor
- Christmas and Anniversary Gifts Advance Notice
- Fun activities like Girl Scout Cookie Season, holiday sales, meteor showers, or seasonal attraction openings.
- Forgotten daily needs such as sleep, lunch, and breaks
Use this list wisely and only add items to your calendar that have a deadline. If you add too much or leave the dates too vague, you start to ignore them and your to-do calendar becomes just a mental clutter.
After creating your calendar, look for ways to automate the actual task, such as automatically paying bills. Set up your Amazon subscription and save; subscribe to receive newsletters by mail; ask your doctor to schedule the next three check-ups at one time. In the end, it’s not for what you do, do it.