Oct 12
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A to-do-list is probably the most classic way of managing your time, planning, and organizing your activities for the day. This is most helpful for people who are particularly busy and have lots of work to do. But mind you it is also useful even if you don’t have a packed schedule. We’ll get to that later. Now, possibly you’ve tried making a to-do-list but it didn’t really work out well for you. The reason may be because it was just a plain old list. Perhaps what you need is a different kind of to-do-list which is more efficient and more fun to do. Here’s a video of just that.
In the video, you’ll see that this to-do-list is not just a plain old record of items to accomplish. It eliminates that boring old list by adding more elements namely a sidebar with your appointments and summary of things you’ve accomplished, and a summing up section at the bottom of the page. Also, you’ll see a handy trick to deal with difficulty focusing on tasks which is basically just to put a clean sheet of paper over the other items on your list. This way, you get to see only one item and you get to focus all your energy and effort on accomplishing that first. Then, once done, you just simply cross that out and move your paper down to reveal the next task.
The sidebar is a great addition to the list. It just solves the problem with keeping tabs of appointments. Instead of making them litter your main list, put them on the side on a separate section, a perfect solution. Also, the list of items you were able to accomplish is a great way to keep track of what you’ve done so far as well as how long it took you to accomplish it. It also allows you to see how productive you are and actually gives you that push to focus on doing your tasks when you see that you haven’t done much and the day is already about to end.
credit goes to Neville at appsumo.com
Another thing that needs mentioning, which was discussed in the video, is the part about organizing your list and packing them all into a binder. It’s an excellent way of keeping track of what you’ve done and accomplished on a weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis. You’ll be able to see how productive or how unproductive you were. If you were the latter, then perhaps you could devise a way to increase the number of things you actually get done. Doing this will also allow you to review what you were up to and stay on track when you’re setting goals. It’s like a journal but without the long narrations.
Perhaps one thing that you can do for this list is to splash some color on it. I don’t mean you should scribble in some colorful flowers on the side or use colorful paper, but rather use colored pens to indicate the urgency and importance of a task. Aside from putting it on top of the list, you can use a red pen for particularly urgent tasks and a plain black one for all the others that aren’t as urgent.
Now, in making a to-do-list, whether you use this one or not, make sure you don’t put in too many tasks. Think about your capabilities and write what you think you can accomplish for the day. You aren’t Flash or some superhero who can do things in the speed of light, so be realistic.
What do you think of this list? Reply with your ideas and opinions in the comments box below.
About Jorge Blanco
Personal Development Junkie. Expert on Goal Setting, Time, Project, and Life Management. Master Strategist and Planner. Passionate Entrepreneur.
Author of Design Your Life: 5 Steps To Create The Life You Want, a complete guide to making a positive change in your life, and living a life by design. Now available on the Kindle Store
