2202: How to Structure Your To-Do List AND Back to Basics: The Kindergarten Model of Organizing by Julie Morgenstern on Time Management
Optimal Work DailyOctober 11, 2026
2202
00:09:52

2202: How to Structure Your To-Do List AND Back to Basics: The Kindergarten Model of Organizing by Julie Morgenstern on Time Management

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Episode 2202:

Julie Morgenstern shares two productivity systems built on the same idea, that nothing gets done until it has a defined place. The first fixes the never-ending to-do list by assigning every task a day on the calendar, grouping tasks into categories to keep an eye on balance, and starting each entry with an action verb and a time estimate. The second borrows the kindergarten classroom as the model for organizing a space, where every activity has its own zone and every item has one obvious home.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/how-to-structure-your-to-do-list & https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/-kindergarten-model-of-organizing

Quotes to ponder:

"Your calendar becomes a sort of silent assistant, planning and protecting the time, motivation, and accountability to get things done."

"A to-do needs to be concrete, actionable, and clear. Start all to-do's with an action verb."

"Walk into any kindergarten classroom in the world, and you will behold the perfect model of organization."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

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