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Microsoft 365
October 14, 2024

Optimize your to-do list with AI

The best way to get things done is by laying everything out in a list, but that’s just the beginning. Here’s how you can use AI to optimize your to-do list to make ticking those boxes much easier.

A hand checking off a box on a to-do list

Schedule smart reminders

Depending on your platform, AI can schedule reminders. For example, if you have Copilot for Microsoft 365, you can have it add reminders and tasks directly to your Outlook calendar. This is especially handy for recurring tasks, as AI can recognize scheduling patterns and automatically set up reminders.

Try a prompt like, “Schedule a reminder for my meeting with the marketing team on Friday at 10 AM.”

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Prioritize tasks

It’s easy to get decision fatigue, especially if you have a loaded to-do list. Use AI to help prioritize your tasks based on their urgency and even assesses the impact of completing each task, for example, by analyzing how finishing a high-priority project might free up resources for different tasks or improve overall productivity.

Easily prioritize tasks by sharing your to-do list with AI by saying, “Organize my tasks by priority based on deadlines and estimated time required.”

Additionally, use AI to sort your tasks into groups like work, personal, and low priority. Tell AI to “Categorize the tasks in my to-do list based on urgency and type.”

Manage your time more effectively

AI can predict how long a particular task might take based on historical data and suggest adjustments to your schedule. If you prefer to exercise in the morning, AI can block that time on your calendar and also suggest breaks around it to give you rest.

To have AI estimate the time of your tasks, share your task list and prompt it, “Estimate the time required for each task on my to-do list and adjust my calendar to fit them in with breaks.”

Track progress with reports

Tracking your progress is a great way to keep you motivated and celebrate daily wins. Based on past conversations and the context you provide, AI can whip up a progress report summarizing what you’ve accomplished. Say something like, “Show a progress report of all tasks completed this week and highlight any outstanding ones.” This gives you a quick overview of your achievements and flags those that need attention.

Learn and adapt to your habits

One of AI’s most powerful traits is its ability to learn and adapt based on your usage patterns. The more you discuss your tasks with AI, the better it becomes at understanding your preferences, priorities, and work patterns. Have AI give insight into how you manage your tasks and see how you can learn from it. If you tend to postpone specific tasks, AI may suggest splitting them into smaller, more manageable steps or scheduling them at your most productive times. Ask AI, “Analyze my task management habits and suggest ways to improve my productivity and reduce procrastination.”

With these AI to-do list tips, you can build better to-do lists and get more done. Try Copilot to see how all the ways it can optimize your everyday life.

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