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How to make a morning to-do list, with 40 examples you can use

YOBIOKO5 min readUpdated:

Mornings are full of things to do and short on time to think. Write the list the night before, and in the morning you just go from the top.

How to make it

  1. Write it the night before, so you do not have to think in the morning.
  2. Keep each item short, like “Take out the trash”.
  3. Limit the number. Start with 3 to 5. Too many and none get done.
  4. Separate daily items from one-off items. Set daily items to repeat.
  5. Mark items as done. You can see your progress.

Building the list the night before

If you are not sure what to write, go in this order.

  1. Look at tomorrow's plans and write down everything you need to do in the morning.
  2. Keep only what must be done before you leave home. Drop anything that can wait until evening.
  3. Put the items in the order you will do them. Getting ready, then home, then things to bring is an easy order to follow.
  4. Shorten long wording. “Take the burnable trash to the collection point by 8” can be “Take out the trash”.
  5. Add one or two items that are only for tomorrow, such as “Submit the report” or “Take an umbrella”.

You can copy the examples below as they are. Pick the ones that fit your morning.

Examples: getting ready

Examples: home

Examples: work and school

Examples: things to bring

Bonus examples: shopping and everyday errands

Besides morning routines, the same list can hold errands you want to finish during the day.

Do not write shopping as one item like “Go shopping”. Write one thing per item, like “Buy milk”. Then you can mark each one as done when you have bought it.

Sample sets for different days

You do not need all 40. Pick 3 to 5 that fit the day.

DaySample list
A normal weekdayWash my face, Eat breakfast, Check today's schedule, Take my keys
Trash dayTake out the trash, Start the laundry, Lock the door
A day with rain in the forecastCheck the weather, Take an umbrella, Pack a handkerchief
A day with a deadlineSubmit the report, Reply to the email, Charge my phone
A day offHang the laundry, Water the plants, Buy milk

Common stumbling points

ProblemFix
Too many items to finishCut down to 3 to 5 and move the rest to the next day
You cannot remember what the item meantInclude the action, as in “Book the dentist” in place of “Dentist”
You rewrite the same items every nightSet daily items to repeat
An errand stays on the list for daysSplit it into smaller steps. “Tidy my room” becomes “Clear my desk”
You leave home without looking at the listPut it where you will see it in the morning, or pair it with your alarm

See your list every morning with your alarm

A list only helps if you look at it. YOBIOKO is an app where the alarm stops when you type your saved tasks. First thing in the morning, you type your list with your own hands. Besides morning routines, you can add errands such as shopping. See Use YOBIOKO tasks as reminders.

Here is how to put your list into YOBIOKO.

  1. Open the Tasks tab at the bottom and tap “+”.
  2. Type what to do.
  3. If you want to be told at a set time, choose the time under Reminder.
  4. For things you do every day, set Repeat to daily or to certain weekdays.

With your morning alarm, the app shows the set number of tasks from those you have not finished yet. In settings you choose the number: S (3), M (5) or L (10). Tasks you have marked as done are not shown.

For wording that is easy to type, see How to write tasks that are easy to type.

Questions and answers

Can I add things that are not morning routines?

Yes. Everyday errands such as shopping or a call can be tasks too. While a task is not finished, it is among the tasks that can come up with your morning alarm.

What if I want a task only on trash day?

Set Repeat to certain weekdays and choose the weekday of trash day. On other days it is not shown with the morning alarm.

What happens on days with few tasks?

On days when you have fewer saved tasks than the set number, practice phrases fill the rest.

Summary

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