Using the OKR Strategy to Make a To-Do List for Your SMART Goals
- Russell Fitzpatrick, PhD
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
We all know the satisfaction of crossing tasks off a to-do list, but not all lists are created equal. Too often, they become long, overwhelming, or disconnected from our larger aspirations. To create a to-do list that genuinely drives progress, it helps to adopt a strategy that bridges the gap between your big-picture SMART goals and daily actions you can take to move the goals forward.
The OKR framework, while sometimes cumbersome, can be adapted to craft a to-do list for your SMART goals that is purposeful, and organized, making every task a meaningful step toward success. For NeuroConscious leaders, this can mean the difference between achieving meaningful progress and getting bogged down in busy work.
What Are OKRs?
The Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) framework is an approach to goal setting popularized by tech giants like Intel and Google, but its simplicity and effectiveness make it adaptable to personal and professional SMART goals.
Objectives: What you want to achieve. These are your SMART Goals.
Key Results: How you’ll drive to success for your goals. These are action-oriented “to-dos” that drive success toward your SMART Goals.
For example:
Objective (SMART Goal): “Lose 10 pounds by the end of the year”
Key Results:
Change pizza Friday to Salad Friday.
Walk 2 miles a day.
Go to the gym twice a week.
Drink 64 ounces of water a day.
The Power of OKRs for Personal Productivity
The beauty of OKRs lies in their ability to connect goals with actionable steps, or to-dos, for those goals, thus providing structure and focus. From a neurotransformation perspective, the to-dos engage the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning and prioritization. When your to-do list is directly tied to your SMART goal, it activates neural pathways associated with motivation and reward, making it easier to sustain focus and effort.
Drawing To-Do Lists from SMART GOALS
To make your SMART Goals actionable, you need to break them down into manageable tasks—your daily or weekly to-do list. For each SMART Goal, list the specific actions required to complete that goal. This becomes your to-do list.
Here’s an example:
Objective (SMART Goal): Expand my professional knowledge by publishing an article on LinkedIn before my summer vacation.
Key Result/To-do: Select the topic that I want to learn more about and attend three workshops about it.
Key Result/To-do: Create a reading list of top industry books on the topic, and read 5 of them, take notes and highlight key insights from each book.
Key Result/To-do: Write a 500-word draft of the article by April, have it peer reviewed by my boss, and edit and publish the final draft by July 4th.
When properly designed, completing all the to-dos results in the goal being accomplished.
Prioritizing with To-dos
One of the common pitfalls of the OKR process is creating too may to-dos that may feel urgent but don’t contribute to your SMART goals. Remember to prioritize your to-dos.
Ask yourself:
Does this to-do directly support my SMART Goal?
If not, can it be postponed, combined, or eliminated?
This focus ensures that your energy is directed toward high-impact activities rather than getting lost in busy work.
Accountability
The OKR (SMART Goal/To-do) process naturally encourages accountability by making your goals tangible. Here are some ideas to stay on track:
Use Visual Tools: Create a dashboard or a checklist to track progress on your to-dos. Tools like Trello, Asana, or a simple spreadsheet can help.
Set Regular Check-Ins: Review your to-dos weekly to assess progress and stay aligned with your goals.
Celebrate Milestones: Recognize and reward yourself for completing key tasks. This positive reinforcement strengthens motivation and builds momentum.
OKRs and Neuroplasticity: Rewiring Your Brain for Success
At haveLAB, we emphasize the role of intentionality in rewiring the brain for success. SMART Goals and To-dos, when paired with consistent action, engage the principles of neuroplasticity. Each time you complete a to-do or KR aligned with your Goals or Objectives, you reinforce neural pathways associated with focus, discipline, and achievement.
Conclusion: Bridging Goals and Actions with To-dos and Key Results
Combing to-dos with your Goals, as outlined in the OKR approach is more than a goal setting tool - it’s a bridge between vision and action. By breaking Goals into doable “To-dos”, what might have seemed unreachable suddenly becomes an achievable outcome.
When you develop a to-do list for each goal you ensure that every action you take is purposeful, focused, and impactful. At haveLAB, we guide clients in adopting this approach as part of their transformation journey, leveraging the principles of neuroplasticity to create lasting change.
As you plan your next steps, ask yourself: What are my goals, how can I make a to-do list to bring them to life? The answers will be a to-do list that not only gets things done but also drives meaningful progress.
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