To Do lists are a really good idea. They help us keep our heads attached. But, I found that for an easily distracted mind- a to do list can be part of the problem. I didn’t realize this until I read this article by Ilyan Pozin where he sites a to do list as a reason why we are less productive. I took his idea and expounded a bit.
Focus on Priorities!
For most people their to do list looks like this:
We all may have a million tasks on our to do list. Planned, unplanned, quick, time consuming,- all levels of craziness.
Try this: Figure out what your priorities are for today. Whether you are at work and it’s a power point presentation on the in’s and out’s of Sound Masking Systems or you are at home and it’s organizing/cleaning out a closet, yard work, or planning for a social event.
List your top MUSTS (or priorities) for today and organize your to do list according to those. Any item that you find yourself doing- when your MUSTS aren’t finished, list it on a separate “to do” list for the end of the day or even tomorrow.
It should look something like this: (click to make bigger)
Now, I mixed home/ministry/work on one sheet. You should probably have one for home, and one for work. There is nothing more distracting than having work problems in front of your face at home and home problems in front of your face at work!
Now, you can choose a time limit, focus on one priority and work your way through that to do list. Once you complete that one, go on to the next. You don’t have a mess of thoughts and mixed up agendas. No clutter, Just Clarity!
I know some people look at this and think- “Only 3 priorities!?! I’m lucky if there are only 7 priorities on a good day!” Try having 3 priorities in the morning, and 3 for the afternoon. This way you are more FOCUSED in what you need to accomplish.
Last note: Keep your to do list close at hand. When something takes you off course look at your list and return to the items on it.
Let me know if you hate it! 