So much to do, so little time.
If you’ve ever thought that just a few more hours in the day would be a huge help in getting to the end of your to-do lists, then you’re not alone.
There will always be more work to do.
Creating an effective to-do list can help alleviate stress by getting all your tasks out in front of you, where you can organize them to be done in the most effective way.
Without some direction in your daily to-do lists, though, days can seem to drag on, filled with distractions, and lacking in productivity. We have trouble knowing where to start, over-commit ourselves, or fail to make room for the realistic deadlines.
How often do you end up moving tasks from today’s to-do list onto tomorrow’s list? This is not how to-do lists are supposed to work; it is a sign that your daily to-do lists are not working for you.
One LinkedIn survey estimated that about 41% of to-do tasks are never completed even though more than 60% of professionals use them. So why do so many of us fail our to-do lists?
Let’s assume that you’ve already made your to-do list for today based on urgency and deadlines. This is the stuff you MUST do today or your world will end. Well, not really. It kind of feels like it though.
Here’s a sample daily to-do list:
~Do Laundry
~Send client emails
~Pay bills
~Prepare for staff meeting
~Pick up kids
~Write project proposal
~Meditate
~Journal
Now, see if you can lump any activities together under the same theme. For example:
Theme 1: Errands and chores
~Do laundry
~Pay bills
~Pick up kids
Theme 2: Self-Care
~Meditate
~Journal
Theme 3: Work
~Prepare for staff meeting
~Send client emails
~Write project proposal
This type of scaffolding helps you stay organized and focused and lets you knock off some of these tasks at the same time.
Try this and notice how you are also using your energy more effectively throughout the day.
I always tell my clients, “It’s not how well you manage your time that matters, it’s how well you manage your energy.”
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