It can be fun to cross items off a to-do list, but is it a good way of gauging progress?
If you’re tackling a complex problem or project the answer is probably no.
When it comes to intractable work, to-do lists can be seemingly infinite and often for every item you cross off your list it can seem like at least two more appear. Moreover, crossing off an item tells you little about how that item affects the whole.
Instead of gauging progress with a to-do list, consider developing a practice of logging what you’ve done, how it relates to the bigger picture, and how far you’ve come.
Not only does a progress log help gauge progress, it makes it easier for you to go back and evaluate your journey so you can reflect on learnings and opportunities for improvement.
