To-Do’s vs. Just Do’s: How to Actually Get Things Done 

To-Do’s vs. Just Do’s: How to Actually Get Things Done 

Let’s get real for a minute: How many times have you sat down to make a to-do list, full of all the things you think you need to do, only to end up feeling more overwhelmed by the end of the day? The list grows, but you don’t. Sound familiar?

We’ve all been there. We make these lists thinking we’re getting ahead, but what they really do is keep us stuck. The more we focus on these endless tasks, the more distracted we become from what actually matters. And let me tell you something: those lists aren’t getting us closer to our goals. They’re just blurring our focus and draining our energy.

Let me take you back to a turning point in my life — one that changed the way I viewed focus, action, and the power of removing distractions. I was 20 years old, back home for my birthday.  I had gained a few pounds, and when I tried on the sport coat my dad gave me, it didn’t fit. The jacket — which fit my dad, twice my age — didn’t even close on me. I was shocked. I had let myself go, and it was staring me right in the face.  

That night, sitting on the couch, smoking my 21st cigarette of the day and shoving chips into my mouth — the same junk that got me here — I caught a glimpse of a Nike commercial. The screen flashed the familiar “Just Do It” slogan, and something in me clicked.

But here’s what hit me: It wasn’t the word “do” that hit me. It was the word “just.”

Think about it: The word “just” tells us to stop thinking about it, stop planning, stop waiting. It’s about cutting through the noise and taking immediate action. It’s the word that stops all the overthinking and excuses. And it’s the word that shifted everything for me.

Instead of writing “lose weight” on a to-do list, I acted. I didn’t plan for the next week. I didn’t make excuses. I just stopped eating processed foods. I just stopped smoking! I just started walking. Then it turned into jogging. Then running. Then, eventually, I ran a marathon. That wasn’t some long-term goal I had mapped out — it was a product of the power of the “just” in “Just Do It.” I didn’t need to think about it. I just acted.

Here’s the thing: We don’t need more to-do lists. We don’t need more distractions. We don’t need to “try” harder. What we need is to just do. To eliminate the clutter in our minds and focus on what truly matters.

And guess what? Research backs this up. Studies show that when you simplify your focus and take action in the present, you get more done. You stop wasting mental energy on decisions that don’t matter. In fact, a study from the University of Toronto found that making too many decisions in a day depletes your willpower and leaves you less able to focus on what really counts. Overloading ourselves with “to-do” lists and distractions doesn’t just make us busy — it makes us ineffective.

Living in the present is all about clarity and purpose. If you’re not connected to something bigger than just crossing items off your list, you’ll get caught in the never-ending cycle of distractions. And here’s the kicker: those distractions aren’t just taking your time. They’re taking your energy. They’re keeping you from living in the present, from focusing on what’s most important, and from moving toward your long-term goals.

So, this week, I want you to make a change. Stop focusing on your to-do list, and start creating a Just Do list. Here’s how:

1. Just Do: At the beginning of each day, write down the top 3 things that you are going to do, not just think about. These should be things that move you forward in a meaningful way — things that will help you accomplish your bigger goals. Write them down on a sticky note, or even a 3×5 card. And at the end of the day, take that card, rip it up, and throw it away. Don’t hold onto it. Get rid of it. Don’t let it hold power over you. You did it. Move on.
   
2. Just Delegate: Identify one thing every week that can be handed off to someone else. It’s time to let go of the idea that you have to do everything yourself. Free up your energy for the things that matter most.
   
3. Just Defer: Every week, find one thing that doesn’t need to be done now. You’re going to push it to later. There’s no need to waste time stressing over it when it’s not urgent or aligned with your goals.
   
4. Just Delete: This one is hard, but it’s critical: Find something — maybe it’s a task, maybe it’s an activity — that’s taking up space in your life and doesn’t contribute to your bigger mission. Let it go. Delete it. Remove the distraction.

And while you’re doing this, ask yourself: What are you going all-in on for 2025? What are the things you’re willing to pour your energy into without hesitation or distractions?

The power is in the “just.” It’s in the simplicity. It’s in removing the clutter and distractions that keep you from living your life to its fullest. When you start focusing on what matters and stop wasting energy on things that don’t, you’ll start seeing real progress.

So this week, just stop overthinking it. Stop trying to get everything done. Just do “it.”  Just start focusing on what truly matters. And just get rid of the distractions that have been holding you back. Toss that to-do list. It’s time to make your “Just Do” list.