Sunday, January 11, 2015

Tackle Your To Do List

In today's fast-paced world, we're surrounded by busy bodies everywhere attempting to conquer the world. With so much to do and so little time, we often find ourselves creating a to do list that never seems to get shorter. In the past I had a hard time crossing anything off of my list, but I had no problem adding to my list. It's almost as if I spent all of my time making my list and no time actually being productive. Fortunately, I found a few tips that have helped me reduce my list instead of constantly adding to it.


  • WRITE IT DOWN. In my experience, I found that making mental lists does not work. Whether it's a grocery list or a to do list, once I left the grocery store or felt that I had finished with my to do list, I would always end up remembering something I forgot. I finally formed the habit of writing everything down. I am definitely more productive when I write down what I need to accomplish. It also helps to see the list literally getting smaller. Try it out. Write down your tasks and cross out each one as you finish. 

  • COMPLETE ONE TASK. This may sound counterintuitive, but each day find ONE task, only one, and do everything you can to cross that off your list. This doesn't mean you will only complete one task a day, it simply means you will cross at least one item off of your list everyday. When I have a million things on my list, looking at it seems daunting. Telling myself I only have to complete one task, the list seems less intimidating. Once I complete the one task, I am more likely to complete more tasks. As you begin being productive, you want to continue, that's why I feel like this tip has worked for me. So just pick one task you must complete today, and make sure you do it!

  • PRIORITIZE. This may seem obvious, but it is also easy to forget. I make my list, then I put a star next to the tasks that need to be completed first. By prioritizing my list, I am reminded of the most important tasks. It's easy to look at a list and see a blur of words. When I star or highlight the important tasks, it's easier to look at the list and see what must be completed first. You can also try numbering your list in order of importance. I have tried that method, but I am constantly reminding myself of more items that need to be added to my list, and some are more important than others. I would be rewriting my list 100 times each day if I numbered my list, so I just stick to putting a star next to my most important task. It may work for you though. Let me know which method is most beneficial to you!
Those are three tips of mine that have helped me be more productive in my busy life by eliminating items from my to do list. I hope that you find them helpful. Let us know if you already use any of these tips or if you have any tips of your own!

XOXO 
Andrea!


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