The 4-part system that will help you sort through all the to-dos in your brain

SALT LAKE CITY — Here's a stop-you-in-your tracks truth: your brain is not a to-do list.

KSL Lifestyle Contributor Jenny Layton said we need to give all those details somewhere to go.

"You think you're gonna remember that, but you won't," she said.

When something new comes up, an older responsibility gets pushed aside. After a while, you're not just managing schedules, you're managing the stress of trying to remember everything.

"Your brain has more important things to do," Layton emphasized.

She shared her system that will help you sort through all the to-dos.

Down --> Up --> In

Step One: Get It Down

The first step is to write it down. Whether it's a school reminder, an appointment or a random thought that pops into your head while making dinner, make sure you get it down.

"The minute you think of something, catch it as you think of it," Layton said. "If you get a reminder that you need to schedule an appointment or a poster board needs to go to school on Thursday, write it down in your to-do list."

Getting a task onto paper, into an app or onto a list frees your mind from having to hold on to it.

Step Two: Follow Up

Writing things down only works if you return to the list. A to-do list isn't meant to be a storage container. It's a working tool.

"We wanna follow up every night and every morning," Layton emphasized. "It doesn't do us any good to write it down if we never look at it again."

She suggested checking off what you got done that day before you go to bed and check what still needs to get done the next day. Then, each morning, revisit the list and choose your priorities for the day.

Step Three: Check In

The third step is regular check-ins.

"As much as you start the day with a plan, you can get off track really easily," Layton said.

She ties her check-ins to transition periods throughout the day.

"After breakfast or when you're done running errands, before you even walk into the house, check in with your to-do list," she explained. "It's like a GPS system for what you need to do."

Instead of drifting from task to task, you're reorienting yourself periodically to make sure you get done what matters most.

Helpful Tools

You don't need the perfect app or platform to get started.

"Please don't spend days looking for an app," Layton emphasized. "Just start."

She recommended Apple Reminders, Google Keep and Todoist, but the system matters more than the platform you use. A notebook. A sticky note. A basic notes app. Any of those can work. It doesn't need to be fancy.

Find more advice from Jenny Layton on Instagram, @jlthehappygal.

This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.