Errands, thank yous, call-backs, chores, reservations, gifts—thank goodness for to-do lists. How would we get anything done without them? But even this simplest of organizing tools has room for improvement. The result of years of to-do trial and error, we bring you advice for drafting lists that do more.

1. Keep it together: Tasks scribbled on scraps or Post-it Notes are fine—until you want to check back and verify that something got done. With a dedicated notebook or spiral pad for to-dos, you can always consult old lists and even track the date it happened. When the inevitable loose list comes along, staple it in.

2. Prioritize your items: Long to-do lists can make your workload seem insurmountable, but arranging by due date help relieve the heat. By prioritizing your to-dos by date and/or time, you can knock off the most urgent items and hold off on less pressing ones until your schedule cools.

3. List tomorrow's to-do's today: At the end of the work day, take 10 minutes before leaving your desk to create a list of tomorrow's must-dos while they're still fresh in your mind. You'll remember more of the important details and be set to hit the ground running the next day.

4. Break it down: Don't combine lots of complex steps into a single to-do item. Instead, start with several more easily accomplished chores. With an item like "Plan Party," where do you begin? But separated into "send invites," "create menu," "clean living room," "grocery run," and so on, you can make steady progress toward your larger goal.

5. Add fun to-dos, too: It's your life, after all, so take care to list things you really want to do, not just tasks you have to do. Add a book, movie or play you've been meaning to catch. Plan a weekend trip or a personal day away from work. That way, your to-do list feels less "demanding boss" and more "personal assistant."