Chapter 1: The Significance of Daily Tasks

In this edition, I’m excited to unveil my daily notebook template! Over the past six months, I have crafted this template to ensure it’s simple to fill out, tailored to my preferences but applicable to anyone seeking productivity. It’s a one-page format that I’ve utilized daily for five months—yes, I started preparing a month before actually using it!

Before I delve into my template, let’s discuss the importance of daily tasks and to-do lists. Setting daily goals is crucial for various reasons, and I’d like to highlight the five that resonate most with me:

1. Enhanced Focus: Clearly listing our tasks helps us establish achievable daily goals, steering us away from distractions.
2. Productivity Boost: Knowing what needs to be done allows better time management, ultimately increasing productivity.
3. Motivation: Research shows that checking off completed tasks stimulates our brains and boosts motivation.
4. Task Prioritization: Writing tasks down helps us identify what is most critical, allowing us to prioritize effectively.
5. Building Discipline: Regularly noting and checking off tasks fosters a consistent routine, essential for achieving long-term objectives.

Chapter 2: My Love for To-Do Lists

I've always had a penchant for to-do lists. Even before understanding the psychology behind their appeal, I maintained lists for various aspects of my life. However, they were often disorganized, leading me to start multiple notepads, which proved unsustainable over time.

Eventually, I learned that consistency was key. I committed to crafting a daily to-do list each morning, which meant carrying tasks over when I couldn’t complete them. I tried different notebook sizes, ultimately favoring small pocket notebooks that I could carry everywhere.

Chapter 3: Daily Reflections

One enlightening blog post inspired me to write down a daily takeaway. This idea resonated with a favorite YouTuber of mine, Ali Abdaal. Every night, I jot down one insightful takeaway from my day, which has helped enhance my appreciation for my daily experiences.

With time, my daily pages became more structured. I moved the takeaway section to the top of my list, began noting the week number, day, and date, and even started pre-drawing checkboxes in advance. I also shifted to preparing my tasks the night before instead of in the morning.

Chapter 4: Transitioning to Digital

A couple of years ago, I got caught up in the excitement surrounding the reMarkable 2 tablet and ultimately decided to pre-order it. It has since become one of the best investments in my productivity. At that time, I was regularly publishing articles for my startup's blog and relied heavily on my notebook for research.

I attempted to use the reMarkable for my daily tasks, but it didn’t stick initially. However, earlier this year, with the release of the reMarkable Type Folio, I began integrating it into my daily writing process, which reignited my interest in using it for task management.

I discovered a tool that allowed me to create a custom page template in Canva and upload it to my device, leading to the birth of my first digital daily task tracker.

Chapter 5: Structuring My Daily Planner

My template evolved further after watching one of Ali’s videos about prioritizing daily tasks. I introduced a section titled “What is today’s adventure?” for my top task, ensuring that if I completed it, my day felt successful. Inspired by Ali’s idea of side quests, I added three additional task slots to my planner.

Additionally, I made adjustments to the size of the lines and boxes to better utilize space on the reMarkable screen.

Chapter 6: Infusing Motivation

My wife’s favorite animated film is Disney's The Lion King. I once gifted her a Pandora bracelet with the quote, "Remember who you are!" engraved on it. This sentiment has resonated with me over the past couple of years, so I incorporated it into my planner for daily motivation.

Recently, I came across a podcast discussing a daily happiness tracker. Liking the idea but not wanting another app, I simply added a happiness level tracking section to my daily planner.

Chapter 7: Creating Your Daily Planner

To create your own planner on the reMarkable 2, start by designing your layout in Canva. To upload it to your device, you’ll need a third-party app that allows customization—proceed with caution, as using such apps can risk your device's functionality.

In conclusion, pre-filling my daily planner the night before has revolutionized my productivity. I hope sharing my journey and template inspires you to develop a system that works for you.

Thank you for reading! If you found this helpful, consider sharing it with friends or colleagues. Until next time, stay productive!

Best,

Dobri

Originally posted on my free Substack newsletter. For more resources, check out my Excel add-in Minty Tools for Excel, download free eBooks and templates, or watch my YouTube videos on Excel and automation.