The To-Do List Method That Will Save Your Sanity as a BCBA

Don’t lie to me.

The never-ending to-do list haunts you just as much as it haunts me.

If you’re a BCBA, you already know that the work never really stops. There’s always another assessment, another meeting, another email, another crisis that wasn’t on your radar, but suddenly needs your attention right now. And if you’re not careful, that to-do list will turn into a black hole of overwhelm.

So, how do you manage it? You need a system. And no, just keeping it all in your head isn’t a system. (I once met a BCBA who claimed they didn’t need a to-do list. I don’t know if they were lying or a wizard, but either way—I don’t recommend it.)

Step 1: Accept That You’ll Never Finish Everything

First, let’s get something straight: you’re never going to finish your entire to-do list.

Ever.

This job is never done. There will always be more things to do than time to do them. Trying to tackle everything on your to-do list in a given day is like trying to clean out a closet that just magically refills itself every time you take something out (see video).

It’s a losing game.

If you’ve followed me for awhile, this comes as no surprise to you.

Don’t focus on trying to change all of your staff. Look to change the right staff.

Don’t focus on trying to update all of the programs in a short consultation. Look to update the right programs.

Instead of trying to clear all of your to-do list, shift your mindset: your goal is to focus on the right things, not all the things.

Step 2: The Brain Dump

At the start of the day (or the end of the day prior, if you’re an overachiever), write down everything you could possibly do that day (the following day). Every email you need to send, every meeting, every supervision, every task you’ve been meaning to get to but haven’t. Dump it all out. Get it on paper so it’s not clogging up your brain.

BTW: This should look messy and disorganized. That’s what you’re going for.

Step 3: Prioritize Like Your Sanity Depends on It

Because it does.

Once you’ve got your brain dump, highlight the top three, five, or 10 things that absolutely must get done. These are the things that, if you don’t do them, there will be actual consequences—missed deadlines, unhappy clients, frustrated coworkers, or, worst of all, more work piling up tomorrow.

Put this on an index card. This is your to-do list.

Step 4: The “Uni-Task Method” (and Handling Interruptions)

This next step is the game-changer. I invented it for myself and you can use it too.

Instead of staring at this master to-do list of 5-10 tasks or so and anxiously bouncing between these different tasks, do this: flip the blank index card over, pick one of those tasks from the to-do list, and write down that one task.

Just one.

That’s your entire focus until it’s done.

Once you finish it, cross it off both sides of the index card, pick another task, and repeat. (See video, it’ll make more sense).

Why does this work?

I can’t remember who came up with this quote but it always stuck with me:

“A distracted mind is an unhappy one.”

Our brains are meant to do one thing.

My brain was never meant to be pulled in 20 directions. And this method help with that. You’re not worrying about what’s next. You’re not getting paralyzed by the sheer volume of tasks. You’re just doing one thing at a time. And that’s how things actually get done.

Of course, life isn’t perfect. You’ll get interrupted. A staff member will need you. A parent will call. Your boss will email with something urgent. That’s fine. When something new comes up, write it down on your index card under your current task. Deal with it if it’s urgent, then get back to your list. But whatever you do, don’t start juggling five things at once. That’s how you end up with ten half-finished tasks and no sense of accomplishment.

Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins

At the end of the day, look at your list. See all those crossed-off tasks (and they are all crossed off with this method). That’s progress. That’s proof that you got the right things done. Even if you didn’t do everything, you did the most important things. And that’s what keeps the chaos at bay.

So, if you’re drowning in work, give this a try. Dump your tasks. Prioritize ruthlessly. Focus on one thing at a time. And watch as your stress level drops and your productivity soars.

Now go tackle that to-do list—one task at a time.

Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.