Getting prepared to live on a homestead, you’d think the biggest threat to my sanity would be planning on the rogue chicken or busted fence in the middle of a thunderstorm. But no—in my mind, it’s the never-ending parade of things to do that’ll make you want to curl up in the barn with the goats and pretend you’re not home.

Here is what I imagine: feed the chickens, fix the gate, order more feed, call the vet about that one rooster who’s clearly got an attitude problem, clean out the truck, fix the leaky sink, and—oh yeah—remember to eat something that isn’t jerky. Somewhere in all that, I’m also supposed to live my life and, apparently, make time to go to the dentist?

Enter: the Master To-Do List. This bad boy won’t just organize your life—it will give your overworked brain a break and make you feel like less of a walking disaster. And yes, it’s man-approved.

Step 1: The Brain Dump (Not as Gross as it Sounds)

The first step is dumping everything swirling around your head onto paper. Or Google Docs, if you’re more techy than traditional. I’m talking everything. Fix the chicken coop, sharpen the chainsaw, plant the fall garden, clean out the gutters (or at least pretend you’re going to).

Write it all down. Don’t worry if it’s messy. Just get it out of your head and onto something that won’t forget. Unlike your brain, which if like mine, it definitely will.

Step 2: Categorize That Chaos

Next, break your list into categories: Homestead, House Projects, Personal, and Miscellaneous Shenanigans (yes, that’s a real one). This way, I’m not looking at “trim the goat’s hooves” next to “pay the electric bill” and wondering what kind of life choices got me here.

Pro tip: Keep your categories limited—three or four should do it unless you’re also running a side hustle, raising kids, and trying to train a squirrel to do your taxes.

Step 3: Weekly To-Do Lists

Now that the master list is categorized, each week I pull tasks from those lists into one focused, manageable Weekly To-Do List. This keeps me from jumping between tasks like a squirrel on espresso. I know what needs doing this week—and I don’t have to think about everything else until it’s time.

Bonus: crossing things off feels amazing. I once added “drink coffee” to my list just so I could mark it off.

Why This Works (Trust Me, I Was Skeptical Too)

• No more forgetting things: My brain doesn’t have to juggle twenty things at once. It just has to remember where I put the list.
  
• Better sleep: Fewer 2 a.m. wake-ups thinking, “Did I ever fix that water line?”
  
• Less stress, more action: I spend less time worrying and more time doing—like splitting wood, mending fences, or finally organizing the tool shed. (Okay, maybe next week.)
  

So there you have it. If the to-do list monster has been winning on your homestead, fight back with a Master To-Do List. It’s simple, it’s satisfying, and it just might save your brain.

I have even put together a free sample to-do list you can download HERE.

Thank you very much for your support. Lord bless you and yours.