How to Make ToDo List: A guide for the unfocused and hurried

Posted on by RandomCarom

Short Version

I. Have two classes of items on the list: Today and Other (or Later, or Pending, or whatever)

A. Put only 2 or 3 things you need to do in the Today category

B. Everything else goes in the Other category

Only promote things from the Other category once ALL items in the Today list are completed

Do not have more than 10 things on the lists (combined) at any given time.

 

Long Version

  1. Once the Today items are complete promote the next two or three most important things on the Other list to the Today list
  2. Do not multi-task. Stay focused on one task until it is completed
  3. If you are being interrupted, deal with the interruption and come immediately back to the task, or put the interruption on the to do list and come back to it
  4. If the interruption is higher priority, leave yourself a note or clue so you can pick up the to do task where you left off
  5. Do not determine the items for Today in the morning (or whenever you start work); make the determination before the end of the day, the day before
    1. For example, if today is Tuesday, don’t come up with your top three priorities Tuesday morning. Come up with them Monday evening. You are more likely to remember what needs attention as you reach that stopping point on Monday
  6. Learn to get good at estimating how long a task or subtask will take
    1. Maybe one task will take all day. Put that as your only item for the day and work on it until it’s completed
  7. Consider the Today list like this
    1. #1 is a must do for today
    2. #2 and #3 are “if I have time” items
  8. DO NOT put the Other list in any sort of order
  9. Continually ask the question:
    1. Is my current task truly getting me closer to my best interests or end goals
  10. As you do this process over and over, you’ll notice some things will forever stay on the Other list
    1. They may be useless
      1. Ask yourself if you’re never going to do the task, why have it on the list at all?
      2. If the task hasn’t been done for some time, maybe it didn’t need to be done in the first place
      3. Get rid if the task. If it’s important it’ll come back
    2. It is important, but difficult.
      1. Just do it.
      2. Put it in the #1 spot in the Today list and do it
  11. If you have more than 10 items for your ToDo, put it on a calendar or some other reminder method
    1. Your ToDo list is not a dumping ground for every little thing you need to remember
    2. It is a tool to keep you focused and doing your best
    3. Treat the List with a little respect and it will help you sort out what is truly important
  12. Build in rest if you can. Take rest seriously, but with a keen attention on the ratio of work to rest

 

More notes to follow:

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