Why Spend Time Naming Your Tasks?
We put thought into naming a new baby, a beloved pet, or an important file because we know a careless choice will come back to haunt us.
The same applies to tasks. Give a task a vague label and the effort you spent creating it can lose all value. To keep that from happening, remember these two reasons to craft good task names.
1. So Future-You Knows Exactly What to Do
Anyone who has built a To-Do list for a while eventually realises how crucial this is.
A task title that felt obvious when you wrote it can become meaningless a few days later. The more time passes, the harder it is to recall the action behind a vague name, so spell it out while the memory is fresh.
Imagine registering a task called “Set goals.” At the time you were probably trying to decide this quarter’s revenue target.
But when you look at the list later you might wonder, “Was that referring to the sales goal? The launch schedule for the new product? Something else?”
Rename it to “Decide this quarter’s sales target.” Future-you immediately knows what to work on.
This matters even more if you practice GTD (Getting Things Done) and end up wrangling hundreds of tasks.
2. So You Can Start the Task Without Hesitation
This is the heart of the article, and it is even more important than remembering what the task refers to.
Knowing what a task means is not enough. You have to act on it and either complete it or intentionally decide to remove it.
If you love running, a task that simply says “Jog” might be all you need. You will lace up without thinking.
Even if running is not your favourite, you might do the same when you feel energetic. But on days when you are tired or bored, that single word loses its pull. “Jogging” sits on the list and you end the day with a sense of failure.
“Jogging” works fine for remembering what to do, but it does little to help you start when your motivation is low.
Instead, tweak the wording so it nudges you into motion. Add a time, place, or reason that makes sense to you.
For example, change “Jogging” to “Jog for 20 minutes after work to clear my head.” Suddenly the task has context and purpose. It sounds lighter, more concrete, and therefore easier to do.
The same trick works for other labels too. “Write report” might become “Draft the opening section of the monthly report in 30 minutes.” When the task feels approachable, your resistance drops.
Even swapping words can help. If “Jog” feels heavy, try “Go for a light run” or “Take a quick walk.” A subtle change in tone can be surprisingly powerful.
