Small Habit, Big Impact by Lanie

Small Habit, Big Impact by Lanie - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

Small habits can have a big impact on success. For me, one small habit that I do every day is writing a to-do list. This habit has improved my organization, reduced stress, and strengthened both my academic and personal effectiveness.

I started writing a daily to-do list for a few reasons. The main reason why I started writing a to-do list every day was that I felt overwhelmed. My busy schedule of juggling class, academic organizations, and spending time with my family and friends was difficult to maintain. I needed to get my priorities straight. For me, prioritizing tasks or events by writing a list each day helped immensely. My to-do lists are all in a little blue notebook. I like writing them on paper, rather than digitally, because I am able to physically cross the tasks off the page. Crossing things off my to-do list fills me with a sense of accomplishment, motivating me further. Also, I rewrite my to-do list every day; but, there are tasks for the whole week on the list. The way I structure it is that I have the most important stuff that I need to complete that day at the top, and I have a separate section of tasks that I need to complete throughout the week. This helps me focus on the most pertinent things first, while still allowing myself to look ahead to what is to come.

Writing a to-do list each day has the most profound impact on my academic success. One thing that my to-do list helps with is managing my assignments and their deadlines. By writing all of my assignments down, I can clearly see what needs to be completed first. This helps me avoid missing important due dates and allows me to submit everything on time. Another thing that my to-do list helps with is breaking large tasks into smaller steps. One example of this is my current project in my Composition and Rhetoric class. In this class, I am tasked with creating a reflective rhetorical analysis video essay. Translating this onto my to-do list, I split the project up into simpler, less overwhelming steps: research, write the script, record the video, and edit. One last thing that my to-do list helps with is prioritizing work more effectively. I section out the things that I need to do on the current day. In ordering my to-do list intentionally, I prioritize the most important tasks first. All of these things come together to impact my productivity, time management, and reduce my procrastination. I recently used my to-do list to break studying for an important exam in my Policing class into important steps. Each day, I wrote what section I wanted to study at the end of my to-do list. This way, I completed all of my important assignments while still managing to study for my exam. This incorporates increasing my productivity and studying habits, effectively managing my time I allocate for homework, and made me not procrastinate studying for the exam until the night before.

In addition to academic success, writing a to-do list each day also has personal and mental health benefits. For me, writing things down helps reduce the stress and anxiety of it. Once something is on my to-do list, I know that I will get it done. In addition, writing a to-do list helps me feel more in control and less overwhelmed. When I write tasks down, prioritizing their importance, I feel in control of my work and able to complete tasks to the best of my ability. Finally, writing a to-do list every day helps improve the balance I have between school, activities, and personal time. I do not just write assignments for my classes on my to-do list; I write everything from events for the sorority that I am in, needing to buy a gift for a friend, and even writing this essay. Doing this helps me organize my life and create more time for myself.

Finally, this daily habit of mine constitutes growth and self-discipline. For me, this habit has built consistency in my days, encouraged responsibility, and improved my follow-through in completing tasks. This habit leads to long-term skills such as organization, accountability, and independence. However, I know that this habit isn’t perfect. There may be days when I fall behind, don’t complete my list, or write an unrealistic to-do list. After doing this habit for a year or so, I feel like I have adapted. I now prioritize essential tasks first, don’t get too upset when I fail to complete all of the tasks, and am realistic in my goals for each day.

In conclusion, while the habit of writing a daily to-do list may be small, it is impactful. This habit has been substantial because it is simple and only takes a few minutes each day, making it easy to maintain consistently. Its effectiveness comes from the structure and clarity it provides to my day, helping me stay organized and focused without feeling overwhelmed. Moving forward, I plan to continue to write a daily to-do list because it has become an essential tool for my growth. As my responsibilities grow throughout the rest of my education and beyond, I know that this small habit will continue to support my success.