Turns Out My To-Do List Needed a Life Coach

To-do lists are great, but let’s be honest! They often grow too big, spiral out of control, and are eventually forgotten. I recently came across the concept of a To-Be list, which shifts your focus from what you need to do to who you want to become.

Your “to-be” goals could look like “improve your relationship”, “get a promotion or your dream job”, or “build a successful business”. Then, create a “to-do-to-be” list, a purposeful set of actions that move you toward that goal.

What matters most is taking deliberate steps that truly move the needle. As an industrial engineer, I naturally align with this mindset. It is about optimizing processes, eliminating inefficiencies, and focusing energy where it has the greatest impact. The same principles that drive productivity in systems can guide how we manage our own growth and goals.

This list moves you from task mode to purpose mode. It invites you to zoom out and see the bigger picture. Not just the emails, errands, and endless small tasks, but the kind of person you are becoming through those actions.

Maybe that means taking time for real conversations instead of rushing through them.. or making time each morning to meditate before diving into your work… or saying “no” to things that don’t align with who you are becoming.

Don’t get me wrong! Your to-do list is a great tool to stay organized. But sometimes, it ends up running the show. Some days, I am so focused on checking boxes that I forget why I am doing any of it in the first place. And if I am being honest, sometimes I create one after I have completed an activity to check it off for an easy win!

Once you know your “to-be,” your “to-dos” become more intentional, you start choosing actions that align with that version of yourself. Keep your “to-be” list short….no more than three priorities. Remember, growth isn’t about doing more… it is about doing what matters most.

When your day feels overwhelming, try writing a to-be list instead. Focus on the person you want to become, and let that guide what you do next. You might be surprised by how much lighter and more purposeful your days start to feel.