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In this post, I’ll discuss why I developed a 10-minute task list, what it is, and how you can use it in your life.

Why a 10-Minute Task List?

When I first started bullet journaling, I remember a conversation with my husband where I felt dejected by everything I had to do and never felt like I got anything done. I know you’ve been there, too. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your to-do list grows faster than you can cross items off it. The main culprits seemed to be the recycled tasks. You know, the ones that keep reappearing even though you check them off. Like laundry, dishes, or cleaning the kitchen counters.

That’s when I came up with the 10-Minute Task List. If I found a snippet of downtime, I’d refer to the list and see how much I could get done in those few spare minutes. Seeing how much I could do during those few clusters of minutes felt amazing. But then, the next day, I’d feel that same frustration by having too much to do and not seeing a dent in the tasks.

When I realized that I needed to give credit where credit was due and write down the things that I did during those 10 minutes, for more reasons why I recommend writing down the things you get done, check out this post. It was game-changing mentally for me.

The Intent of a 10-Minute Task List

The intent is to create a reference for those chores that plague my mind and distract me from my project so I can take care of them before I sit down. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. You want to concentrate but keep getting distracted by the dirty dishes or the cluttered desk. You spend more time fiddling and ignoring these outstanding items than working on the project you need to finish.

If you took 10 minutes to clear away some of the clutter from your mind and satisfied the need to straighten your house a little, do you think you could concentrate? I found a significant improvement in my concentration when using this method.

Finding Clusters of Minutes for a 10-Minute Task List

I have 3 children: the oldest, 12. The youngest just turned 4, and one in between. We like to enjoy our time as a family, and I teach my kids to work hard, and they enjoy helping me do chores. But I do not want to spend every waking moment cleaning, scrubbing, or sorting. I know my kids wouldn’t like helping me do that much cleaning, either.

I started thinking about how I use the cluster of minutes each day. 10 minutes to spare here, 5 minutes there, and I often squander those minutes away. I don’t need my house squeaky clean or perfect. But I like it organized and prefer not to step on Cheerios or Legos on the floor. Why not use those clusters of minutes to work on items from my 10-minute task list?

Spare Moments

I decided to develop a list of things I could do in just 10 minutes or less. Because we all have spare moments, these items would help lessen the overwhelm of life and help keep me more organized. It was all in the name of being more productive.

I find that when I sit down to work on a project, my mind is suddenly overcome with everything I’ve neglected. All sorts of distractions crept their way into my conscience, demanding attention at that time, although they were nowhere 10 minutes earlier when my mind was not trying to focus. Thoughts of the cluttered bathroom counter, the clean dishes in the dishwasher, and loads of laundry yet to be started.

If you cannot focus, do a quick brain dump of everything in your head. That way, you know what you need to do but focus on your current task.

Making a 10-Minute Task List

Here is the list I started on my phone when I started brainstorming all the ideas I could do in 10 minutes. It quickly grew larger as I realized how many things I could get done in 10 minutes or less, when I created this spread in my bullet journal. I organized each in a category surrounding the central idea.

The 10-Minute Task List Bullet Journal Collection

Instead of creating a top-to-bottom list, I started with a central title and built my list based on categories. I love mind-map formats like this because I can move around the list more easily while brainstorming. I don’t feel I have to complete one section before moving on.

Once I moved the list to my bullet journal, I created a mind map version of the list. Since each section circles around the main topic, I won’t start at the top and work my way down. I’ll move dynamically around the list as needed. If I were to list ‘Kitchen’ on the top of a list, I might only clean the kitchen and never move to the bathroom when I start a 10-minute task period.

But that’s just me.

If you’re comfortable with a top-to-bottom list, do what is comfortable for you. Use this method and customize it to suit your tastes.

Need a 10-Minute Task List for Work – Not Just Home?

I use this list while I’m at home. I’m sure with a little retooling. You could customize a list to accommodate your work life, too.

If you’re at work and use this method, you might have longer than 10 minutes. You might develop a 25-minute task list instead of a 10-minute task list. Whatever fits into your schedule or slots in between meetings or zoom calls. Having a go-to list makes a huge difference in getting more things done. Because I don’t waste those spare moments deciding what I need to do.

Why Not Longer Than 10 Minutes?

Many people use a Pomodoro timer or the Pomodoro technique to work in short bursts on various projects. I usually have a sliver of time to get something done before the next big thing. 10 minutes is usually the time I have left on the oven timer before we sit down to dinner.

If I can schedule 25 minutes, I will do it. But even if I schedule 25 minutes, I’ll still record these ‘wins’ in my 10-minute task log. Because it’s more about feeling accomplished than the name, I call it.

Magic Happens When you Write it Down (There’s Research Behind It!)

I’ve heard numerous times throughout my life that brain connections are more powerful when you write something down. Not only do you think about it, but the physical transfer of electric brain pulses controlling your fingers to form letters, spell words, and complete sentences creates an even stronger memory as multiple senses are now involved.

I could go on and on about my passion for writing, but that isn’t the point of this post. So here are a couple of articles I found related to why I like to write things down. (I find this stuff fascinating!)

Other research highlights the hand’s unique relationship with the brain when composing thoughts and ideas. Virginia Berninger, a professor at the University of Washington, reported her study of children in grades two, four, and six that revealed they wrote more words faster and expressed more ideas when writing essays by hand versus with a keyboard.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201303/why-writing-hand-could-make-you-smarter

The act of writing is a complex cognitive process relying on intricate perceptual-sensorimotor combinations. As a highly sophisticated and comprehensive way of externalizing our thoughts, giving shape to memories as well as plans and dreams, sharing our stories, and communicating our emotions and affections, writing always involves the skillful handling of some mechanical/technical device and necessarily results in a visuographic representation – some (more or less) readable text, in the form of a string of letters or symbols.

https://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-haptics/digitizing-literacy-reflections-on-the-haptics-of-writing

The Magic of the 10-Minute Task List in My Own Life

After I created this list of items to do in 10 minutes, I went on with my daily life. Then something magic happened. It was just as the kids were going to bed. They were slowly getting into their pajamas, brushing their teeth, filling water cups, and trying to prolong the process as long as possible.

I found myself with about 10 minutes as the bedtime routine dragged on. Instead of harping on my kids, I used the time to tidy the kitchen, put dishes away, fold towels from the dryer, and start a new load of laundry. In the meantime, the kids straightened the living room while I emptied the garbage, de-junked some surfaces, and straightened my desk. I competed against a mini-timer in my head.

After goodnight kisses and the kids tucked in, I looked around and approved. I never referred to the 10-minute list I made, but I didn’t need to. Instinctively I knew what was on that list. Immediately my brain realized that I had 10 minutes and set an internal timer. Once that imaginary timer dinged – the sense of accomplishment blossomed. The best part is it didn’t take an hour or two! All it required was a mere 10 minutes.

What Happened After Those Magical 10 Minutes

A wonderful thing happened later that night as I sat at my desk, wanting to work on a project. My mind was clear! Undone tasks did not hang guiltily over my head. Thanks to those dedicated 10 minutes, I found a mindful peace and added focus to the task at hand.

I’ll review my 10-minute task list and add to it every once in a while to keep it fresh in my mind and keep the magic flowing.

Find out what happens when I start recording the results of the 10-minute speed-cleaning sessions. I couldn’t predict the amazing shift in mental health!

Interested in Building Better Habits?