I’ve Changed My To-Do System Four Times Since Coming Back From Maternity Leave (and That’s the Point)
When I came back from maternity leave, I expected my schedule to change.
What I didn’t fully anticipate was how much I’d need to change the way I tracked what needed to get done—especially something as basic as my work to-do list.
Since returning to work, I’ve changed my strategy at least four times. Not because I couldn’t stick with a system, but because my life, environment, and capacity kept changing.
And that’s the part we don’t talk about enough: Changing tactics isn’t a productivity failure—it’s a self-management skill.
Attempt #1: Computer Sticky Notes
Quick, easy, low effort, and quickly overwhelming. Sticky notes multiplied, priorities blurred, and nothing visually stood out.
Attempt #2: Paper To-Do Lists
Effective in theory (this technique used to be successful for me), briefly functional in practice, and immediately hijacked by a toddler and infant who were far more interested in stamping and drawing on them than I was in completing tasks.
Attempt #3: Google Calendar Tasks
Not terrible. Helpful for reminders. But I wanted more context and visibility across projects than the interface allowed. Could have been user error as well, but with my limited time and energy, I found it easier to change things up rather than figure it out.
Attempt #4: Google Docs To-Do List
This is what’s working right now. I can see everything in one place, group tasks by project, and highlight priority items so my attention goes where it matters most.
I keep one running document that’s always open on my computer during the workday. Each project has its own section, which lets me quickly scan what needs to get done without mentally switching contexts. When something new comes up, I drop it into the right section immediately so it’s not living in my head (and likely to be forgotten).
I don’t worry about keeping it “clean” or perfectly formatted. This is a working document. Tasks get checked off, crossed out, or sometimes just deleted depending on what I need in the moment. If something becomes a priority, I highlight it, so it stands out visually when I come back to the list.
It’s not fancy, but it reduces friction. And right now, that’s what I need.
Will this be my forever system? Probably not. But it fits this season, and that’s the point.
The Real Lesson
Every time my to-do list stopped working, I could have blamed myself. Instead, I treated it like data. Something changed. So I adjusted the environment—not my expectations of myself.
That shift matters more than any specific system. Most productivity advice assumes consistency—same schedule, same energy, same demands. But real life doesn’t work like that. Seasons change. Capacity changes. Priorities shift. When your system stops working, it’s not a failure: It’s feedback.
Listening to that feedback is a skill. It means noticing when something feels harder than it should, pausing long enough to ask why, and being willing to change your approach instead of pushing through something that no longer fits.
This is the same principle across fields: Whether we’re looking at baseline data in behavior science or studying self-regulation and interoception (the ability to notice and interpret internal signals like energy, stress, and focus), the process is similar. We are observing what is actually happening; noticing patterns in behavior, energy, and focus; and adjusting accordingly.
Your friction, your avoidance, your overwhelm—they’re not character flaws. They’re signals. And the more you learn to notice and respond to those signals, the easier it becomes to build systems that actually work for you, instead of forcing yourself into ones that don’t.
So instead of asking, “Why can’t I stick to this?” a better question might be, “What is this telling me about what I need right now?”
Try This
1. Notice friction. If your to-do list feels heavy, confusing, or avoidable, that’s information.
2. Change one variable at a time—format, location, or how you mark priorities.
3. Match the system to your environment. Kids, meetings, interruptions, and energy all matter.
4. Redefine “done.” Progress looks different depending on context.
5. Give yourself permission to change again, and again, and again.
If your to-do list isn’t working anymore, you’re not failing—you’re paying attention. Sometimes the next step is not trying harder, it’s using a system that fits better. Something like the Self- & Time-Management Planner will guide you through creating and sustaining a system that works for you. Additional resources can be found in Manage Your Time Like It’s All You’ve Got!
Additional Resources
McDonough, M. (2024, June). Making sense of interoception. Harvard Medicine. https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/making-sense-interoception
Nagoski, E., & Nagoski, A. (2020). Burnout: The secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Ballantine Books.
Newport, C. (2024). Slow productivity: The lost art of accomplishment without burnout. Portfolio.
Self- & Time-Management Planner Paperback
Self- and time-management aren’t about being the most productive person. They’re not about comparing yourself to others. Self- and time-management are about discovering your values and priorities and ensuring you can make time for yourself, your family, and friends, outside of work and school. They’re about setting personal and attainable goals while using data to change your behavior.
