Just about every woman I know works from a to-do list. Some have ongoing lists, while many create a daily list either at the end of a day or the beginning of the next. Regardless of the scheduling of your to-do list, here are five steps to master it.

Five Steps to Master Your To-Do List

1. Put your tasks in the order that you need to accomplish them.

Decide on the one or two most important tasks and put them at the top of the list; tackle them first. Once you’ve got those out of the way, you’ll sail through the rest of your day.

2. Schedule important tasks for your peak times.

If you’re a “morning person” for example, schedule your most intensive tasks early in the day.

3. Don’t add items to your list on the fly.

Unless a critical issue arises during the day, just work your list; don’t add items throughout the day. Put new tasks on a list for tomorrow or a later time.

4. Cross off each item as you complete it. 

By crossing tasks off your list, you are rewarding yourself psychologically. Truth be told, I often add items to my list that I just completed, so I can cross them off.

5. Refine your list as you go through the day.

This does not mean adding items, but checking to see if all the tasks are still relevant, based on the day’s activities and results. You may find it makes sense to move an item or two to the next day or deleting them completely.