Use This Simple Method to Prioritize Your to-Do List.
There are many ways to prioritize your to-do list, but even if you find the right one, they can feel a bit overwhelming and overly complex . This means that when it comes to tasks that don’t require the same level of commitment, your productivity method can actually be stressful. If you’re tired of your to-do list feeling like an overwhelming burden, you can simplify the task by prioritizing your tasks using the “have to, should, want to” technique.
What is the “need, should, want” method?
This method was developed by Jay Shirley about ten years ago. The blogger aimed to improve not only people’s productivity but also their daily lives. This is important, because if you feel unhappy and unmotivated, you won’t be particularly productive. With this system, instead of prioritizing tasks based solely on productivity or results, you also include some of what you want to accomplish, which helps you finish the day without overexerting yourself.
Similar to systems like Agile Results , the “must, should, want” methodology requires you to spend a little time each morning planning your day. Taking a few minutes to create a daily plan is a good way to get into a rhythm and stay on track, but don’t forget to write down your goals to stay motivated and organized. In your planner (or an app like Notion , if you prefer), create three columns: “must,” “should,” and “want.”
In the “Must” section, write down what you must do on a given day, whether it’s a small part of a larger, long-term project or a task that’s due in a few hours. (If you need help identifying these parts and their due dates to achieve your larger goals, try using the Kanban method.) “Must” tasks are those you must do in the future but aren’t ready for yet, or those that won’t be critical unless you do them now.
Finally, “want” tasks are those you simply want to complete, whether they’re related to your immediate responsibilities or not. This “want” aspect is what distinguishes this method from all the others : many methods ask you to rank tasks by urgency, but only this one leaves room for pleasure.
Complete each task in order. Completing the tasks you must and should do leaves room for the ones you want to do, and this anticipated reward can motivate you to take on more challenging tasks.
When and how to use the “need, should, want” method
This works well for an overall daily plan, combining work and responsibilities with after-work hobbies. But it’s also useful for individual projects, as they change every morning. Today’s must-do tasks may become mandatory tomorrow, so there’s room for variation and a more flexible approach, as long as you maintain the habit of reviewing your lists every morning. Getting things done early in the morning can be motivating, but even simply understanding what’s needed and what’s not can reduce stress and help you stay engaged in your work.
This is also helpful for budgeting. Before you get paid or go shopping, make a list of what you need to buy, what you should buy, and what you want to buy. Even just visualizing the list in this way will help you make more informed purchasing decisions.
To keep things manageable and doable, aim to only write three or four things on each list per day. You’ll never get to the “want” column if you have nine “have to”s and seven “must do”s, which defeats the entire purpose of this technique. Be selective, and if something isn’t a “have to,” don’t push yourself; just make it a “must.” This approach is meant to add a little fun and reduce the stress of your typical to-do list, but it won’t work if you treat every task as an inevitable necessity.