Build a Better To-do List
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a to-do list that’s a foot long, filled with a variety of tasks — everything from the mundane to the critically important. The critical stuff always gets done, and I notice that the mundane does too. It’s all the stuff in the middle that languishes from day to day. And that stuff in the middle tends to be stuff that, once done, could make my life a whole lot better.
I’ve preached before about the virtues of a streamlined to-do list. Here’s a strategy to make it even more effective. Rather than list tasks that you know you’ll get done today because you have the flames of hell toasting your buttocks or just adding stuff like “do laundry,” “buy new file folders,” and “organize paperclips,” write down the three tasks you’ve been putting off. Go on, try it. The tasks can be anything, personal or business-related, as long as they’re creating even the vaguest sense of dread in your stomach. For me, this week, some of my to-do list tasks included sorting out an invoice for a client, figuring out a glitch on our server, analyzing a bill from a vendor and calling him to correct it, picking up my office for 10 minutes (seriously, it was a horrendous mess and I couldn’t think with the clutter), saying no to a friend, and writing for 30 minutes on a new project. Completing just three such items every day has given me an incredible boost of energy and cleared up my mind to focus on tasks that had to be done on a certain day, such as assignments, interviews, or appointments.
Of course, it’s always good to keep a running list of stuff to do — I still keep a list like that, only I tuck it into a drawer and work hard to cross off stuff on my list of three. Try it out, and let me know what you think: good idea or does it make you forget stuff you really have to do today, like buy toilet paper?
P.S. And if you’ve been putting off signing up for one of our Renegade Writer eCourses, please put this task front-and-center of your new handy-dandy to-do list. We’re starting to get a rush of last-minute signups, so you don’t want to miss out. Three of the courses start Monday, January 7, 2008. That’s less than a week! [db]
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Jan 2, 2008 Advice, Ass, Classes, Personal yammerings
It sure didn’t take me long to come up with a few gut-churning items for this list! For the past month I’ve been feeling stalled at some kind of freelancing crossroads. It’s time to really sort out where I want to go, and just creating a list of things I’ve “put off” feels like a step forward. Thanks for sharing this idea.
Wow, I have to do this one. There are a few things I have been putting off like forever….so time to take the bull by the horns, I guess!
I think, I can get down to the business of writing. It’s a fun challenge, and more often than not, very achievable, too. I grouse a little. I can even say, The mood it puts me in makes for tougher characters, grittier dialog, more realistic storyline. you pointed to write down the three tasks. Thanks for the things. I like your new handy-dandy to-do list. Great idea.
I always put down the different steps of my project on a list but would never put any household chores on such a list. It would just devalue the more important list, make the get lost in the mass, you know?
Is always difficult to manage your time properly, I like the idea of improving the way you manage the things to do. Interesting approach, thx.
You know that I decided to build this list one day, and it was perfect, I managed to organize work. It lasted two weeks and you know that one day I felt unhappy because all my life became programmable; I knew what I would do tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. It was not for me. Let I forget something but it will be various.
For me, The things that get put off are the mundane..I keep finding other things that can “fill in the time” instead of getting it done. I need to get to a more regimented and commited time frame and not allow anything to get in the way of that! I know I can if I put my mind to it!
My to-do lists tend to get so huge I never do the things that really matter! Will take notes.
i use a similar process…
>> small notebook (paper): master lists for all “projects” as well as “time + resource budgets”, ongoing pieces of writing, “designs”, and “diagrams”.
>> “short list” in wallet: the tasks that need to be done the most from all relevant lists.
this sounds like a lot, but really, at any given time i only have about 4-12 project lists and 1-2 resource budgets that are actually active. any others tend to be on hold indefinitely…