Stop Playing: Own the To-Do List

I’ve worked with so many people who struggle managing their tasks. From frustration to outright fright, overseeing a to-do list for many is a logistic and emotional challenge.

• Terry lives by post-it notes. They are everywhere. On her computer screen, on her notebook, and on her desk. Whenever someone calls, she grabs a pad, makes some quick notes and puts it up.? What she needs to do already is in front of her eyes, but it has just became color and words.
• Brad is only electronic. He wants to limit paper and increase his focus. Unfortunately, if it isn’t on his phone, it does not exist.
• Ann is a list maker. On her whiteboard are 4 to 5 columns of things she needs to complete. Whether a project or a simple administrative task, it is up there. The problem? The lists only grow, nothing seems to come off.
• John is a “journaler.” He carries it around with him everywhere he goes. In meetings he takes diligent notes, creates follow-up items. A spark and idea, it gets written down. However, life for him only seems to be forward moving. He does not consistently look back to verify he if has followed-up.
• Craig goes by memory. He insists he can keep it all in his head and does not miss follow-up. To him, if it is important enough, someone else will remind him again if they need his assistance. Yes, Craig is real.

?Five different people, with five different challenges, but I have found that most people who wrestle with completing or managing a to-do list suffer from one or more of these issues. Let’s look at how each one can (and in some cases has) changed their current approach. It is based on an electronic process. However, it will be in conjunction with my process of PEC (preparation, execution, and control) from my book, The Time-Optimized Life.

Want to see the rest of the article? You’ll read:

• Post-It Note Conversion
• Electronic Exchange
• List Renovation
• Journal Translation
• Memory Adaptation
• PEC It

You can do that right here --------> I want to read (or listen to) the rest of the newsletter.

David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, owner of Kairos Management Solutions, LLC, and founder of the Infinity Lifestyle Design program. David helps individuals, teams and businesses “in-career” create more time flexibility in their lives. In addition, assists individuals and couples craft a “post-career” lifestyle strategy to meaning and purpose. To learn more, contact him at [email protected] or visit Infinity Lifestyle Design.