SiteBuild 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]
3 Responses to “Build a Better To-do List”
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piper
Said this on January 3rd, 2008 at 9:02am: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.
damyanti
Said this on January 6th, 2008 at 1:43am: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!
Glass Toaster
Said this on July 30th, 2008 at 2:04am: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.