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The Dreaded "To Do" List

Written by: Michelle Weimer

Article Overview: Most of us have one, yet rarely are they used in the right manner. I’m referring to that dreaded to do list. More often then not, instead of creating organization, they create overwhelm. What does your to do list look like? How do you manage the beast?

The Dreaded "To Do" List

How do you deal with that pesky to do list? Does it seem to grow and grow with no end in sight? If so, maybe you are approaching it all the wrong way. What do you use your to do list for? Is it as a reminder of the many things you’d like to get done? Is it a list of your must do’s? Is it a catch all for the things you don’t know what to do with? Is it a wish list, a life or death list, or somewhere in between?

If your list just continues to grow and become overwhelming without ever being able to mark anything off, then it’s time to re-evaluate its purpose. So, how do you do that? How do you get from overwhelmed to organized? First of all, write everything down. Then, decide what kind of a list you are really wanting to create. If it is a true to do list, then it needs to contain things that must get done.

Now look at the tasks on your list. Is it appropriate on the to do list, or does it belong somewhere else. What you are going to do with each piece? Is it a must do, can it be delegated, or should you just dump it from your list? As you begin to go through what you’ve listed, and find things that don’t necessarily belong on the to do list, you may want to start a wish list. It can be a much bigger list but it should bring inspiration not overwhelm and frustration. Write all those things you’d like to get done but aren’t an absolute must. Then when you have some spare time, pick something off of that list that you can accomplish.

It will feel rewarding to get done the things you must and not be so overwhelming to look at a long list that just grows and grows. And be sure to mark things off after you get them accomplished. There’s something very satisfying about putting that little check mark next to a completed task.

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Article Tags: death list, frustration, inspiration, many things, reminder, spare time, wish list, wrong way



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Re: An 18 minute plan of managing your day - Hi Yinka, Thanks for the article. I write out a daily To Do List (I've never successfully managed a Stephen Covey-style weekly plan), and cross off the tasks as I go. However, I can definitely see the value of adding the specific time and place that tasks will be done, writing an IGNORE list and also stopping and checking throughout the day plus reviewing at the end. Very useful article. Cheers! DH
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