digestVidSign in
summary

windmillbooks - How To Write The Perfect To-Do List | Charles Duhigg | Smarter Faster Better

Thumbnail of the video “windmillbooks - How To Write The Perfect To-Do List | Charles Duhigg | Smarter Faster Better”
Community upload. AI output has not been independently verified.
Author: windmillbooks
Categories: Productivity Fitness
Tags: productivity, fitness
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 10:57 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Write a to-do list with two layers: put one big "stretch goal" at the top and place SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) underneath it. The video argues that the common habit of listing easy wins at the top of a to-do list is the wrong approach, because the stretch goal drives ambition while SMART sub-goals turn it into an actionable plan.

Key Points

  • Most people write to-do lists with a few easy tasks at the top, sometimes even tasks already done so they can cross them off, which the video says is the wrong approach according to researchers' observations.
  • A stretch goal is a large ambition you don't yet know how to fully achieve, such as losing 30 pounds, finding a new supplier, or starting your own company.
  • Stretch goals tap into bigger ambitions and can spark innovation, but a list made only of them feels overwhelming and hard to start.
  • SMART goals break one small part of a stretch goal into a concrete, trackable task, which gives you a plan for how the big ambition gets done.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions:
    • Put one stretch goal at the top of your to-do list, a big ambition that feels slightly out of reach.
    • Under it, list one or more sub-goals, each a small piece of that stretch goal.
    • Run each sub-goal through the SMART test: state the specific aim; define how you will measure completion; confirm it is achievable and write one quick sentence on why and how; check that it is realistic (schedule cleared, resources in place); set a timeline for completion.
    • Keep the two components together: the stretch goal provides direction, and the SMART goals provide the plan.
  • The SMART acronym stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound, and the speaker notes it is easy to remember.
  • The video does not give a specific number of stretch goals or SMART goals per list, nor does it cover how to review or update the list over time.
  • The speaker attributes this approach to researchers' findings but does not name specific studies or researchers.

Bottom Line

A productive to-do list pairs one ambitious stretch goal with SMART sub-goals beneath it, rather than a pile of quick, easy tasks.