Tweet

Just DON'T Do It!

Written by: Tom Lemanski

Article Overview: For most of us, accomplishing more with our time starts with a To-Do List that allows you to perform daily activity triage. Nearly everyone uses a To-Do List. Almost no one has a DON'T Do-It List. Should you? Here's some ideas...

Just DON'T Do It!

With their Just Do It slogan, Nike served to get folks to consider getting off the sofa and, at the very least, put on their sneakers and do something. Their message served to inspire some viewers to proactively pursue achievements they otherwise wouldn't. For most of us, accomplishing more begins with a To-Do list to support our daily activity triage. Nearly everyone uses a To-Do list. What almost no one has a Don't Do It List. Should you?

If you examine your To Do List at the end of the day, the the things that didn't get done were likely put off at the expense of some non-agenda items.

Are you serious about becoming more effective and getting more done with less time and effort? Consider creating a Don't Do It List to help you get more out of your To Do list. There is a catch to this simple suggestion. Its not easy. Your Don't Do It list should include some of your bad/unproductive habits. Behavioral scientists tell us that its not possible to simply stop a habitual behavior. We must replace previous behaviors with new ones. We exist mostly in cruise control/subconscious mode. So stopping requires some reprogramming.

Hints for Creating Your Don't Do It List

• Determine what hindering habits should go on your list.
• Keep your list short with no more than two or three items. Changing a habit is a challenging, lengthy process. Attempting to change more than three is unrealistic for most of us.
• Evaluate and document the benefits you expect to enjoy as a result from the desired changes.
• Put it in writing. Commit your list of changes and their benefits to writing. Ideally your Don't Do It List should be included with your To-Do List or kept in a place where you can review it regularly.
• Get an accountability partner. Find someone to you can share your challenge and have them help by holding you accountable.
• Continue to visualize the benefits you expect to gain.
• Maintain your resolve for as long as it takes. If you're going give up in three weeks
• Celebrate your achievement as you succeed in making the change. Reward yourself. You deserve it. Thank those who helped you.

Putting the word "just" before either "do it" or "don't do it" implies simplicity. But remember, just because its simple doesn't mean its easy. And stopping is typically more challenging than starting. Don't take it lightly.

More Opportunities for Achieving More with Less

If a Don't Do It list makes sense for you personally, what opportunities might exist if you applied this in your organization?

Related Articles
  What is the best way to develop my sales skills?
  Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession Part 2
  Contribution
  How can you make more of your customers open your emails?
  Know your magic numbers

Article Tags: dont do list, habit change



Related Forum Posts


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Clues to Increase Sales -- Listen to the Buyer

••••••>SEO Tip Of The Day: HTML Validation

9 Steps to Improve Performance

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.