My Weird To-Do List Method (That Actually Works)
So, I was listening to a Mel Robbins podcast where she shared her weekly planning routine. I gave it a go, tweaked it a little, and ended up with a process that’s genuinely changed the game for me. It’s simple, satisfying, and—shockingly—actually helps me get stuff done.
I’ve just shared my Google Sheets template on the Kobey House members page if you want to try it yourself. It’ll make a copy for you, so feel free to personalise it however you like!
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: The Brain Dump
Start by writing down everything that’s floating around in your head—big or small. The goal is to offload the mental clutter so your brain isn’t working overtime trying to remember it all.
Think:
“Reply to Tom’s email”
“Buy new school shoes”
“Clear out the shed”
“Delete phone photos to free up storage”
Be specific. If you write “plan party,” break it down:
→ “Book DJ,” “Send invites,” “Email caterer.”
You get the idea.
Step 2: Rule It Out
Now cross out anything that:
You’re not doing this week
Isn’t actually your responsibility
Honestly, this is my favourite step—it’s so freeing to release tasks that don’t belong on your plate right now. I have house renovation plans in my mind every week, but these are definitely not getting done any time soon.
Step 3: Estimate Time
This step is my own twist, not part of Mel’s version.
For each remaining task, estimate how long it’ll take. Use simple categories like:
5 min | 30 min | 1 hour | 2+ hours
This helps you see where each task can realistically fit into your days.
Step 4: Rate the Priority (1–5)
In a new column, rate how important it is to get this task done this week:
5 = The week cannot end without this being done
1 = It could probably wait if it needs to.
Step 5: Rate the Ease (1–5)
Now, in another column, rate how easy the task is to do:
5 = So simple
1 = Full brain capacity required
I know this is confusing because it flips the number scale from the last step, but it makes sense when we sort the list in the final step, trust me!
This step might feel a bit extra, but it helps me work out what time of day I might do any given task. For me, my brain is so much better in the mornings and absolutely useless after 4pm. So if it’s a more challenging task I’ll prioritise doing it in the morning, but if it’s an easier admin task that I could do with one eye on a TV show in the background, I can save it for then and not stress about squishing it in to a busy day.
Step 6: Sort Your List
Sort your list by the priority column, and somehow the opposite number rating in the previous step means that your tasks for each priority level are listed in order of ease, too!
This means the top of your list will show you the most important and easiest tasks. That’s your sweet spot—quick wins that make you feel productive right away.
Bonus: Try the 1-2-3 Method
If your list is still a bit overwhelming, I use the 1-2-3 method:
1 long/difficult task
2 medium-effort tasks
3 quick wins
It keeps momentum going without burning you out.
If you reach the end of the week and there are still tasks hanging around—no stress. This happens to me every week without fail. You can roll them over, or better yet, rule them out next week. Maybe you’ll decide to just buy more cloud storage instead of deleting 4,000 photos. We’ve all been there.
Let me know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear how it works for you.
Happy to-do-ing! x