When there are a million things to accomplish throughout the day, what’s typically your first plan of action? Probably a to-do list, right? With apps like Evernote and innovative ideas like the bullet journal, managing day-to-day tasks is supposed to be easy, and sometimes it is. But other times you just cannot seem to remember what you’re supposed to be doing. If you want to really commit all those tasks to memory, there is a secret hack you should probably try.
According to research recently conducted at the University of Waterloo, drawing your to-do list is the best way to commit something to memory. In the study, participants were first asked to view a series of words that would be easy to draw. They were then given 40 seconds to draw or write that word. However, no matter which they chose, they had to be sure to actively use all the time allotted (i.e., those who were drawing had to keep adding detail while those who chose to write had to continuously rewrite the word). Afterward, the group was asked to recall as many words as they could. Those who drew their words were able to remember more than twice as those who wrote theirs.
Researchers also conducted this study on a larger scale at a lecture hall and saw the same results. They even tried again, this time adding in the option to instead list attributes of the word (for example, if the word was “coffee” they might write something like “caffeine, brown, hot”). Participants could also choose to focus on a mental image of the word or stare at a picture of the object. However, throughout each experiment, drawing the word was the most successful.
Why does this work so well? NY Mag says the success seen in the study was partially because it “required people to use a combination of the skills they used separately in the other tasks.” In order to draw something you have to take into account what it looks like, then actually think about how you were going to draw it and then use your motor skills to make that happen. It required a lot more brain work than quickly scribbling down a word, but the results seem well worth the extra effort. Your daily to-do list might not make it into any galleries in the near future, but it could very well be the secret to a super productive day.
How do you keep on top of your to-do list? Share your tips with us on Twitter @BritandCo.
(Photos via Getty)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.