#8. Hit Ctrl–Alt–Del to end uninspiring tasks

YouTube has Watch Later.?

Instagram has Save.

Browsers have Bookmarks.

Netflix has My List.

Bookshelves have unread books.

The things we 'save for later' are often the things we don't instantly feel committed to, and think that we might in the future, but then end up feeling even less committed to with each passing day.

As a result, our 'saved for later' lists turn into cobwebbed attics filled with relics from a bygone era. But unlike a cluttered attic which remains out of sight and out of mind, these cobwebbed lists of ours subconsciously and insidiously add unnecessary weight to our lives.

Sometimes, we spend a day off ploughing through bookmarked articles and end up feeling like we've worked rather than relaxed.?It is what we call ‘busy work’.

But most other times, our lists just stare at us reminding us of our failings to get to the dozens, or hundreds, of things we promised ourselves we would, but haven't got to – and still feel like we should.

But we shouldn't have to, not in every case at least.

To-do (or to-watch, to-read) lists should serve the purpose of energizing us or giving us direction, not depleting us. They should be our filter to get us to what we want to, need to, must, or should do…without overwhelming us.

So, what can we do to ease this pressure and clean the attic? Experiment with purging the uninspiring lists.

It’ s like pressing Ctrl–Alt–Del. Go to each Task Manager and saved list and 'End Task' on all the books you saved for later on a whim just because someone recommended it, all the movies you saved for later on a whim just because you overheard a discussion on it, and all the articles you saved for later on a whim just because you decided it'll help you at work.

The things that survive this purge will be those which you feel deeply committed to do, those which you feel excited by, and those which you feel inspired to spend your finite amount of time on. These are things that will align with your purpose, your passion, your ambition, or indeed, all three.

And then you actually might get to them – and even complete them – without it feeling like work.