Are you one of the millions with a To-Do list? How about one with WAY more items on the list than humanly possible to get done in a day, or even a month? If so, are you ready for a better way? You've suspected there is a better way...you've probably known for a long time. I've identified some proven techniques that will help you take back control of "the lists" -- so that about a week from now you won't miss your old "system" and you'll be amazed at how much smoother things are going.
Let's talk To-Do list "How-To's." Seems a little ridiculous? Yet - if it's going to help you feel better and get more done, it's worth reading on, right?
Mind Dump
The first thing I recommend is to set a timer, have plenty of paper/pens (or a computer app with unlimited typing space), and
Go! Dump all the "to-do" stuff out of your head onto the paper or word doc, etc. Don't worry about filtering the items on the list at all right now, just get it all out of your head and into something you can work with later. Call it The Project List, or The Dump List, or Possibilities. When the timer goes off you probably won't be done. As you think of more items, just keep adding them to the list. Getting it all out of your memory is incredibly freeing; most people 'like a weight was lifted off' them. Ideally, you'll do this once to get started and then add to the list about weekly. From this working list, you can identify the most important things for your daily To-Dos.
List of Six
When coming up with a daily To-Do List, it's critically important that you realize the power of the list. It may seem crazy, but it's been proven that checking off/accomplishing items on a list gives a person a small burst of energy (satisfaction!), and NOT checking off items on a list unfortunately takes some energy away (guilt?). Knowing this, your mission is to include items on your daily list that WILL be done before your head hits your pillow.
A very successful system is to have only 6 items- the most important things that must be done to be most effective, if you will. Yes, SIX. Not 16 or 60; SIX important things that make a difference or that must be done. Keep in mind that "eat dinner" or "brush teeth" won't be on a To-Do list. However, "exercise" might be on the list for some people, until it's an established habit like brushing teeth. The key to To-Do list happiness is to realize when you add something to the list, you've made a promise to yourself, and breaking a promise to yourself is just as detrimental as breaking a promise to someone else.
Would you agree to do something for a friend and then change your mind willy-nilly? When you see the item pop up on your calendar, would you just say "Oh, I don't feel like doing that right now?" if you had promised someone else? Nope. Right now, or at the end of today, make your list of the 6 OR LESS most important things that need to be done tomorrow (no matter what). Aaaah, how good it feels to have accomplished these things!
Extra Credit
I've found that our society's conditioning makes accepting a list of only 6 things a serious challenge for most people. I urge you to do it anyway, but to set a very small list of Extra Credit items down as a compromise between your old way (that didn't work) and the new way (that works, but you need convincing at this point). In other words, identify the most important 6 things that must be done before your head hits the pillow, and if a few other items creep onto the list, anything over 6 becomes "Extra Credit." Yes, this means you have to prioritize which are most important, and to give yourself the OK that if Extra Credit items don't get done by the end of the day, it's alright. This will help you maintain control.
I WANT to...
My final tip on this mini list for accomplishing more and feeling better about your To-Do List is to take back control of your mindset about the list. You've been conditioned to feel like you have to, and sometimes you get so attached to getting things done that your very identity seems to depend on it. It doesn't have to be like that. Merely changing "I have to" and "I need to" -to- "I want to" and "I will" can set you free. Try it now. Think of 2-3 things that have been weighing on you and say, "I choose to ____." for each of them. It's likely you experience a shift, or you realize it doesn't need to be on the list at all. In the coming days and weeks, every time you catch yourself saying "I have to" replace it with "want," "choose," etc... Congratulations, my friend; you've done it. It's that simple.
Consider which of these resonate with you. Execute on 1 or all 4 of the above for the next week or month and you will definitely feel better and accomplish more. I know, it's hard to believe such simple things can yield such great results. But after all, that's usually the case.
Here's to your success!
Heather