DRD2: The Simplest Tool for Medical Students, Post Graduates, and Doctors: Your To-Do List

In the whirlwind of medical education and practice, staying organized is crucial. A well-structured to-do list can be a lifesaver, helping you manage your time effectively, prioritize tasks, and reduce stress. Here's how to create a simple yet powerful to-do list that caters to the specific needs of medical professionals:

1. Choose Your Tool Format:

• Traditional: A handwritten list in a notebook or on sticky notes offers a tactile and flexible approach. I would suggest you start with a simple piece of pen and paper before you go to any other method.

• Digital: Apps like Google Keep, Todoist, or Microsoft To-Do provide features like reminders, labels, and collaboration.

Jot down anything and everything that comes to mind. Do not bother filtering. Sometimes it can take up to an hour to remember everything.

The list can be as long as you want it to be. It can be 5 things, 15 things or even 50 things.

Include everything from professional life to personal life that needs to be done.

2. Prioritize Ruthlessly:

• Urgent vs. Important: Identify tasks that require immediate attention (e.g., patient consultations) and those that contribute to long-term goals (e.g., research projects).

• The Eisenhower Matrix: Use this tool to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance, helping you decide what to tackle first.

Eisenhower Matrix

3. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps:

• Large tasks can feel overwhelming. Break them down into manageable chunks.

• Example: Instead of "Study for Cardiology Exam," write "Study ECG from Davidsons at 7 pm : Page 356-368". This method helps avoid the starting obstacle as you have already decided the time and how to and where to rad from.
  

4. Set Realistic Goals:

• Be honest about what you can accomplish in a day.

• Start with a few essential tasks and add more as you progress.

• Anything that can be done within 5 minutes, do it then and there itself. DO NOT list it.

5. Schedule Time Blocks:

• Allocate specific time slots for different activities (e.g., studying, clinical rounds, research).

• This prevents tasks from bleeding into each other and ensures you dedicate enough time to each.

• This also helps us identify where we waste time.

6. Use Reminders:

• Set alarms or notifications to remind you of deadlines or appointments.

• This helps prevent last-minute scrambles and ensures you stay on track.

7. Review and Revise Regularly:

• Your to-do list is not set in stone. Review it at the beginning and end of each day.

• Move unfinished tasks to the next day, adjust priorities, and add new items as needed.

• When something new pops up, add it to the list then and there. Our brains are for thinking and generating ideas, let the pen and paper store the trivial yet important stuff for us.

• Make sure to strike out once you finish a task. The pleasure it gives you while striking out and realising you are making progress is worth it.

A sample of to do list

Example To-Do List for a Medical Student:

1. Urgent:

• Attend 9 AM Surgery Lecture

• Complete patient history and physical examination for Mrs. Smith (Room 312)

1. Important:

• Read Chapter 5 on Respiratory Physiology

• Start literature review for research project on diabetes

1. Other:

• Prepare presentation for Anatomy group discussion

• Catch up on missed lectures (online recordings)

Google Keep for Digital To-Do Lists

Google Keep is available free in mobile, tablet and laptop. It is automatically synced across all devices.

Click here to go to google Keep.

Google Keep is an excellent choice for creating digital to-do lists. It offers:

• Easy Organization: Create multiple lists, add labels, and color-code notes.

• Reminders: Set time or location-based reminders to never miss a deadline.

• Collaboration: Share lists with classmates or colleagues for group projects.

• Accessibility: Access your lists from any device with internet access.

Sample of Google Keep

You can add checkboxes which can be stroked off once done, colour code them, pin them to the top, add images, and add reminders to a note.

Google Keep widget is available which you can keep on the home page so you see the list when you unlock your phone.

Conclusion

A simple to-do list can be a game-changer for medical professionals. By prioritizing tasks, breaking them down, and using tools like Google Keep, you can stay on top of your responsibilities, achieve your goals, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Remember, the most effective to-do list is one that you actually use consistently, so find a format that works for you and make it a part of your daily routine.

Recommended reading: Getting things done by David Allen.

Contact the author for further details:

Dr. Arun V J

MBBS, MD Transfusion Medicine

+91 8547415117

vjarunvj@gmail.com