Overwhelmed by To-Do Lists? Try This One Simple Habit

The #7 issue of the Learning Loop Newsletter.

Hey folks!

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists, you're not alone. At some point, we all struggle with juggling priorities, battling distractions, and feeling like we're never making real moving ahead. But I've found a simple habit that changed everything for me: the Daily Highlight—a concept from Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.

Breaking Free from Endless To-Do Lists

Instead of drowning in an endless list of tasks, the Daily Highlight is about choosing just one key task each day—the one thing that will give you the most satisfaction or move you closer to your goals. This small shift can have a huge impact on both productivity and peace of mind.

I first came across this idea through Ali Abdaal and later explored it in Make Time. Before that, my days were scattered with unfinished tasks and distractions. But once I started applying the Daily Highlight, everything changed—I became more focused, more intentional, and reached my goals.

How I Use the Daily Highlight

I used to wake up and immediately start figuring out what to focus on. But I realized this wasted time and mental energy, leaving me stuck in indecision.

So, I made one small change: Every night, before bed, I take five minutes to decide on my one highlight for the next day. This is my priority, no matter what.

To make this habit stick, I add my Daily Highlight to Todoist, which I've set up as a widget on my iPhone home screen. That way, when I wake up, it's the first thing I see—before emails, messages, or social media. No wasted time, no decision fatigue, just clarity and action.

The Secret to Consistency

The key to making this work? Remove friction.

By setting my highlight the night before and making it visible first thing in the morning, I eliminate unnecessary decision-making. There's no second-guessing—just a clear path to action.

Now, I want to hear from you: What will be your Daily Highlight for tomorrow? Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”~ James Clear

Until the next issue,
Thamu Allan