I find most people have a love/hate relationship with a to-do list. I’m on the firm love list side and hope to convert you to my way of thinking – or affirm that you are right!
To-do lists are great – here is why.
I believe the easiest way to keep on track with my goals is by documenting them. Listing the required steps helps me make a detailed plan that will produce a favorable outcome. All I have to do is follow the steps.
I find I am able to commit both my physical and mental resources to anything when I focus on taking one step at a time. If not, that’s when the pressure builds.
To avoid overwhelming myself, I only concentrate on the action item in front of me. My approach is to work productively to achieve the desired outcome. The results from one step provide a clear way forward for working through to the next one.
This works in both my professional life and my personal life.
At work, my days are successful because I commit to tackling the big things first. We call them the big rocks. If you haven’t moved your big rock you really haven’t worked.
Naturally, there are urgent projects that come out of the blue – issues, incidents and other people’s priorities. However, the ideal way to be effective at my job is to keep my own priorities in mind and follow my to-do list.
In my personal life, I benefit from to-do lists because they enable me to prioritise my time. I make a list of the things that require time and tackle them in order of importance.
At the end of each day or week, I can look back on my to-do lists and see what’s been accomplished. It’s easy to forget how far you have come when you are head down in projects. Taking things one-step at a time is my formula for success.
Here are some questions to think about to help you move forward:
1. What factors do you use to determine how to prioritise your tasks? If it’s business related is the task something that is income generating? If so, move it up your list.
2. How do you know when it is time to reshuffle your responsibilities for greater efficiency? If you aren’t ticking the boxes, then it may be time to reshuffle, re. think outsource.
3. Which areas of your life are the most important? Where do they sit in your priorities? For our family it’s our church life. It’s a non-negotiable. What’s your non-negotiables?
Need some support to get started?
Be in touch for a free consultation. I can help you plan your priorities and help move you forward.
Talk soon
