ToDo lists appear to be so productive! Checking the tasks off one by one gives us a feeling of achievement. There is a fundamental flaw in your ToDo list. Let us learn what is the flaw and how to fix it.

The information is summarized from the book: "The One Thing"

When we make a ToDo list we add items in an order which depends on our memory. We generally tend to do the top item or the easiest one first. The flaw is that there is no indication of the importance. Manier times we skip on the tasks which are the most important or difficult. We procrastinate on them by doing the easier ones. We do not even feel guilty about this!

So how to fix it? It is simple. Order your list in terms of priority. Here the 80/20 Principle comes into the picture(Read below for more info). If you had to make a list of 20% of the tasks, which ones would you include in it? Then repeat it. Till you end up with one task which is the most important one. Start doing the task. Once done repeat the process. Like this, you are really productive and not just faking the feeling of it.

More on the 80/20 Principle
The 80/20 principle(a.k.a Pareto Principle) simply states that a small amount of causes(20%) creates most of the results(80%). These numbers are not fixed though, sometimes it can 90/10 or even 70/30.
Wherever we check in our lives, we can see this principle working. Do not believe me? Recall your last group project. In that I guarantee, 80% of the work was done by 20% of the team members. Also, notice how 80% of the doubts asked in a class come from 20% of the students. On a countrywide scale, wealth distribution is the best example. 10% of the people hold 77% of the wealth! This principle is universal. Once you realise this holds for your tasks as well, then no one can stop you from achieving your goals!