Why Saving Your Sanity Requires Embracing an Infinite To-Do List

The Mountain That Never Stops Growing

I used to compare my to-do list to The Myth of Sisyphus: every day I pushed that heavy boulder of tasks to the top of the mountain, only to watch it tumble back down overnight. The list never ended. This seemingly infinite set of responsibilities felt normal at first—just part of being an executive. But over time, it became exhausting and emotionally draining.

An infinite to-do list leads to an insidious form of stress. There’s no finish line, so it’s easy to think you’re not working hard enough. I’d catch myself wondering if just one more hour of work might erase one more task. The pressure built up to the point that I started believing I was letting people down if I left anything unfinished. Then I stumbled across the idea of triage-based organization—and realized there was a better way.

The Core Idea: Reducing Stress, Not Just Increasing Productivity

It’s important to underline why I decided on triage: productivity was a side benefit. My real goal was to reduce stress. I had to accept that I’d never solve every problem, especially as a CTO where challenges pop up unpredictably. By prioritizing the most critical tasks and admitting that some items might never get done (if they don’t matter enough), I’ve freed myself from the notion that a “perfectly empty inbox” or “complete checklist” is the measure of success.

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Borrowing from the ER: Triage in Action

When you walk into a hospital emergency room, you won’t necessarily be treated in the order you arrived. Instead, the doctors apply a triage system: patients with life-threatening conditions take precedence, and others may wait—or even be turned away for less urgent problems. It’s not a matter of fairness; it’s about making the best use of limited resources.

I realized that this principle applies perfectly to my role as a CTO at MadKudu. If there’s a major technical crisis or a strategic decision that only I can make, it must come first, even if it means ignoring smaller, less critical tasks. The ER method acknowledges that time is limited, so the tasks with the greatest impact on the “health” of the company get my attention.

Why the Triage Model Works for Executives

1. Unpredictable Crises
   As an executive, my day can be derailed by sudden issues—from server outages to urgent partner meetings. Triage-based organization means I pause and ask, Is this the new ‘most critical’ priority? If yes, everything else moves down a notch.

2. Infinite Task Pool
   Just like an ER gets a steady flow of incoming patients, I face an endless stream of emails, Slack messages, and unanticipated fires. Trying to handle them in strict sequential order was impossible. Instead, I needed to treat the “heart attacks” first.

3. Delegation and Saying No
   At a hospital, not all patients require immediate treatment by the top surgeon. In my case, if someone else can handle a task, they should. If a task isn’t vital to the company’s welfare, it’s okay to let it wait—or even let it slide altogether.

With the triage mindset, I have permission to be selective. It empowers me to focus on the tasks that only I can do, confident that I’m applying my time where it has the greatest impact.

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When Personal Life Intersects Work

One of my biggest breakthroughs came from recognizing that work and personal well-being can’t be handled as if they’re entirely separate. My stress didn’t magically vanish when I shut my laptop—it followed me home. And I’m not alone in this struggle; in high-pressure roles, it’s normal to have work responsibilities bleed into personal time.

The Bath Story: A Lesson in Slack Burnout

I vividly recall an evening when I got home feeling overwhelmed. Exhausted, I decided to take a relaxing bath. But instead of enjoying the warm water and quiet moment, I spent the entire time checking Slack on my phone. Every mention, every complaint, and every new ticket made me feel worse. I’d think, I’m not working hard enough, or I should have solved that issue before leaving. Checking Slack confirmed my fears—there was always more to do.

This downward spiral only ended when I uninstalled Slack and email notifications from my phone. Now, when I decide work is done for the day, it’s really done. No more refreshing Slack and confirming yet again that I still have infinite tasks. This shift alone slashed my stress levels significantly.

Applying Triage to Personal Tasks

While I mainly talk about triage in my CTO role, I also apply the same thinking to my personal life. If I’m dedicating Saturday to rest, the “critical task” is to recharge my energy, not to do laundry or check on a side project. By identifying my “Top 1” personal priority each day (like a crucial workout, time with family, or a mental break), I avoid feeling guilty about not multitasking every minute.

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Making Triage Work for You

If you’re struggling with a never-ending to-do list, consider a triage-based approach. Below is a short daily checklist that I’ve found useful:

1. Identify the Top Priority
   First thing in the morning, ask yourself, What’s the most critical task for today—the one that only I can do and that will have the biggest impact? Keep that task front and center.

2. Accept That Not Everything Gets Done
   Just like an ER may discharge or postpone minor cases, you must be okay leaving some tasks unfinished. If someone else can handle it, delegate. If it’s low-impact, it can wait.

3. Switch Off When You’re Off
   Stress accumulates when there’s no boundary between work and personal time. Remove work apps from your phone if necessary. Mentally clock out when the day is over.

4. Reassess When Emergencies Happen
   If something urgent drops in your lap, pause to evaluate if it’s truly more critical than what you’re currently doing. This ensures you’re always working on the highest priority issue.

5. Reflect Daily
   At the end of the day, quickly review whether you gave the most important tasks the attention they deserved. If you did, let the unfinished tasks go—knowing they didn’t matter as much.

The Real Benefit: Reduced Stress

In my experience, the real magic is how much stress this method relieves. By focusing on the truly crucial items, I don’t feel guilty when I clock out for the evening. I’ve shifted the mental script from I have to get everything done to I have to get the right things done. That single change has dramatically improved my mood and my ability to enjoy my time off.

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Key Takeaways

• Triage is about priorities, not perfection. Accept that some tasks won’t get done—and that’s OK.
• Shut the door on work after hours. Uninstall work apps if they lure you back in after you’ve logged off.
• Focus on what only you can do. If someone else can handle a task, delegate or let it go.
• Reassess daily. Ask yourself every morning which task is the single most important for that day.
• Remember the real goal: less stress. Boosting productivity is a bonus, but preserving your peace of mind is the real reward.

If you’re ready to regain control of your time and reduce your stress, give the triage-based method a try. Ask yourself which tasks truly need your involvement and which ones can wait—or be handled by someone else. Then do the most important thing first, every single day.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MadKudu. Any content provided is not intended to malign any organization, company, or individual.