If you’re anything like me, the to-do list is always too long, and there never seems like a good place to start. Some tasks might be quick, others are draining, and a few feel like they’ll take a whole week just to begin — is that just me?

Not every task deserves the same energy, and not every task requires the same brainpower — and that’s why I’ve been sorting my to-do list based on my level-based productivity method.

Breaking things down this way makes it easier to decide what to tackle first, how to structure my day, and how not to burn out on the big projects. Sounds helpful? Read on.

LEVEL ONE

These tasks typically fall into 1 of 2 categories:

• Quick and easy “Knock ‘Em Out” tasks
• Easy brainless tasks, but may be time consuming

A few examples of “level one” tasks would be quick email follow ups, scheduling social media stories, adding a link to a linktree, etc.

TIP: Block out 30 minutes every morning to complete some level one tasks to kickstart your productivity for the day!

LEVEL TWO

Level Two tasks aren’t necessarily difficult, but may take some more brainpower.

Think content creation without a ton of research needed, putting together a quick shot list, brainstorming activation ideas, etc.

These tasks are ones that require more focus, but aren’t hard. You could get them done easily if you can just focus your time on them.

TIP: Sometimes, I’ll set entire days or larger time blocks for level two tasks so I’m not getting distracted jumping between level one or three tasks while working on level two tasks.

LEVEL THREE

Level Three tasks have a few common characteristics:

• Won’t finish in one sitting
• Number of complicated steps
• May involve multiple team members or multiple contributions
• Takes significant mental energy

TIP: Create sub-tasks to break up these Level Three tasks or projects – often Level Three tasks can be broken into multiple Level One and Level Two tasks!

It’s a simple, but typically effective method. Breaking your list into levels helps you spend your energy where it matters, when it matters. Try it this week and see how it shifts the way you tackle your list!