Does your to-do list feel overwhelming, or do you often end the day wondering where the time went? Many small business owners start with big plans only to get pulled into emails, distractions, and reactive tasks.
The solution? Create a simple, Franklin-style daily to-do list. In this post, you’ll learn how to build one in under 10 minutes. It comes with complete time-blocking, breaks, and realistic planning, so you can stay focused, reduce stress, and actually finish what matters most.
Benjamin Franklin, one of history’s most productive minds, used a structured daily schedule and a to-do list to achieve an incredible amount. You can use the same approach in your small business today.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways of The To-Do List
- A daily to-do list helps small business owners stay focused, reduce decision fatigue, and finish more important work.
- Writing tomorrow’s list the night before makes the next day easier to start and keeps work from spilling into the evening.
- Breaks, free time, and realistic time blocks belong on the list, too, because overpacked days usually backfire.
- To-do apps can help if you want reminders, syncing, and less paper clutter, while printable lists still work well for simple planning.
- Benjamin Franklin is a strong example of how structure, lists, and routine can help one person get a lot done.
Why Small Business Owners Need a Daily To-Do List
We could all learn from Benjamin Franklin, a president who has been called the “Godfather of the To-Do List”! Benjamin Franklin made a printable to-do list every day to get more done.
Benjamin also set himself a strict daily routine, which included:
- Time for sleep.
- Meals.
- Work.
These were all scheduled for specific times of the day.
Reading emails can take you away from your tasks, so use a to-do app to help you check them less often. Having a to-do list keeps you more focused on your time.
How to Create One in 10 Minutes
End your days by writing the to-do list for the next day. When I worked in an office, I would start writing my printable to-do list for the next day at 4:30 am every day.
This was very helpful when I walked in the next day. It also allowed me to go home without thinking about work.(Most of the time!)
Of course, now that I have been running my own business from home, I have gotten away from the daily to-do list as I found myself working around the clock. But recently, I have found I needed them to accomplish more in less time.
Yes, that is correct, the to-do list allows me to DO MORE in LESS TIME! Isn’t that what we all want to do?
Add Your Breaks to the To Do List
Now, this is not what I did working for someone else, as I knew how to walk away for 10-15 minutes. Either grab a bite to eat, use the bathroom, or go for a short walk.
But as I manage my own business and time, I rarely take breaks until I started this list of things to do each day.
Not only did I find myself having a little extra time to have lunch and go for a walk, but I found that I was actually getting MORE done. Yes, taking a break can also boost your creativity and help you avoid burnout.
Yes, burnout can be real if you keep going without taking any breaks. That can be said not only in business but also in life. Many athletes feel burnt out after working out day after day.
A to-do app can help you time your breaks easily, whether it’s paying bills or marketing your business.
Start with the Hard or Easy Things First
Now, depending on whether you are a morning person, start with the easier or harder tasks. I’m a morning person if you didn’t know. So I start with the harder things most mornings.
Then I move on to the easier tasks as the day nears its end. Most days, I try to end by a certain time, so I have time to make a nice dinner instead of rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off!
Leave Time in Blocks on Your List
Be sure to leave enough time for yourself to get things off your list done. You don’t want to stress yourself out. If you get everything done early, start the list for the following day. Stay ahead, and you will feel better each day.
Often, your list may include tasks that take longer than you anticipate. Either stop and add it to the next day’s list, or add other items to your simple to-do list for the following day.
The more you can check off your list, the better you will feel. You will feel like you’ve accomplished a lot, and you most likely have!
Don’t Forget to Add Free Time To Your Day
Many successful people realize that they need free time. The old saying, “work hard, play hard,” is often true. So, do schedule your free time with fun activities, whether it is reading, knitting, working out, etc.
Everyone’s definition of fun may differ, so pick what it is you ENJOY doing. Free time should be spent on activities not related to work.
Benefits of a Daily To-Do List
Psychologist and author David Cohen puts our love of to-do lists down to three reasons: they dampen anxiety about the chaos of life; they give us a structure, a plan that we can stick to; and they are proof of what we have achieved that day, week or month.
So if you are feeling anxious, write down the things you need to do and the things you want to do. Start to check them off and see if they help you feel less anxiety. You can even add generating leads to your to-do list. What small business doesn’t use leads to grow?
Most people need structure to get things done and be successful in life. Otherwise, they wander around endlessly, wondering what to do or when to do something, or worse, never make a decision.
Having the to-do list makes YOU decide. It puts you in charge of your day and your time. If you want to be more modern, consider using a to-do app.
To Do List Apps
Here are some popular to-do list apps that you can use to help you get more done in your 24-hour day.
- Any Do
- Tik Tok
- One List
- Google Keep
- Bear App
- Omni Focus
- Alexa to do list
The Alexa To Do List For Web
If you thought Alexa was only for searching online, you may want to think again.
Upgrade your to-do list with The Alexa to-do list for web and see how much easier it is to manage your tasks. Sync your chores across all your devices and keep track of what needs to get done, no matter where you are.
Got a busy schedule? Just tell Alexa what you need to do, and it’ll be on your list. You’ll never have to scramble for a pen and paper again to write the to-do list.
Your tasks update in real-time, so your list is always current and reliable. Want to check off tasks with ease? Alexa’s got your back, turning organizing into something simple and stress-free with the to-do list app they offer.
How Did Ben Franklin Do So Much?
Aside from being one of our forefathers in the United States, he also invented the lightning rod, made significant discoveries in physics and population studies, wrote best-selling books, composed music, and played the violin, harp, and guitar at a high level, founding many civic organizations.
He started a newspaper at the age of 23 and was a postmaster for many years; these are just a few of the many things Ben Franklin accomplished in his lifetime. He also had 3 children.
Benjamin Franklin swore by lists, not just a to-do list but lists to live by. He also went to bed and arose at the same time every day – he lived a structured life.
Your Turn: The To Do List
I’d love to know if you use to-do lists in your business or life, and if your days are mostly structured. Do you prefer a printable to-do list or a to-do list app instead?
Frequently Asked Questions About To-Do Lists for Small Business Owners
Why should a small business owner use a daily to-do list?
A daily to-do list helps you decide what matters before email, calls, and random tasks take over your day. It keeps your work visible, which makes it easier to stay on track and finish what you started.
Should I use a printable to-do list or an app?
A printable list works well if you like writing things down and keeping it simple. An app is better if you want reminders, cross-device syncing, or task organization that travels with you.
When is the best time to make tomorrow’s to-do list?
The night before is usually best. It gives you a clear starting point in the morning, and it lets you leave work with a plan already in place.
What should I put on a business to-do list?
Put your most important work first, then add breaks, time blocks, and anything else that keeps the day realistic. If you run a small business, that can include follow-up emails, lead generation, marketing tasks, and admin work.
How did Benjamin Franklin use lists to get more done?
He used a structured routine and daily planning to organize his time. The article points to his habit of living by lists, which helped him manage a lot of work without letting the day drift away.
