It doesn’t matter how much you think you are one of these people who remembers everything, doesn’t like to be bound by structure or time blocking, how it doesn’t work for you to have these detailed to do list; your brain NEEDS structure.

Don’t believe me? Go Google “schemas and psychology”.

It is basically a framework, a particular pattern of behaviour or thought process that enables us to interpret and organise information. Your brain’s very own tiny to-do lists that tell you how to do something, buy a drink, brush your teeth, catch a bus, get dressed… All those little tasks you do every single day without thinking about them. The problem is, your brain doesn’t have a schema for deciding what you need to do right now. That is where your written To Do list fits in – the one you are writing for the lazy pleb who will read it in the future.

Good –

• call doctors on 01467 555412 and make appointment for check up.

Bad –

• call doctors

Your future self really needs those directions. It really does! It has all the required information on that task, there is no extra work involved – your brain loves it and can action it without having to overthink, remember. writing “food shopping, doctors, hair” on a list and your brain can so easily avoid and overlook because it has no idea where to start – exceptionally important if you are neuro-diverse! The bad list hasn’t a starting point, it hasn’t a purpose and it will involve you fishing for additional information so you can start to do the task!

Be kind to yourself and your brain – spell it out, make sure the task has all the necessary bits on it to be able to complete it – OR if you you use an app to keep your to do lists, put the details in the notes.