Good managers and business owners know how important it is to make lists constantly. Making a to-do list helps you organize all of the tasks you need to complete into one resource. Many people are reluctant to make a list because they think they can simply remember everything they need to do. You may be able to do that, but most likely it means you don’t have enough to do!
For entrepreneurs and consultants, making a list is a sacred art that takes only a few short minutes of time but determines the flow and energy of the entire day.
Follow these easy steps to making a good list and knocking it all out in one day:
- Be Realistic - Most people make lists of things to do and include such things as “Change my career” or “Write a novel”. While these may be tasks you wish to complete, they are more like long term goals. Making lists constantly will help you achieve these goals, but write them somewhere else.
- Motivate Yourself - When making a list, throw in some simple tasks that you think might still be effective. One of my favorite things to do is remember to take all of my vitamins, or teach the dog a new trick. These tasks feel more rewarding when completed and motivate you to move on through the list.
- Be Consistent - Don’t make a list with several obscure and unrelated tasks to complete like: “1. Send client reports, 2. Clean gutters, 3. Meet girlfriend for lunch, 4. Attend seminar Dec. 14th, etc.” You want to be able to complete every task in the next day or so.
- Manage Time - The most important part of making a good list is finding time to complete it. Determine how long each task should take and jot down the time in minutes next to each task on the list. You may be surprised that your tasks add up to a couple of hours, but you complete the list in less than 1 hour. Then, you have the rest of the day.
- Stay On Course - If one of your tasks is lengthy, do not get distracted while completing that task. Some times my tasks are to read a very important trade article. Some interesting points or sources may be in the body of the article and I feel very compelled to go look them up on Wikipedia or follow the resources. Instead of getting distracted, write these down at the end of your list and continue with the task at hand.
- Make Lists Easy - Your list should be very easy to get to. It should be on your person at all times. Buy a little memo book and pencil from the dollar store and keep them in a pocket, or like me, use iGoogle’s Sticky Notes on your home page. If your list isn’t easy to access, you won’t finish it, or be able to add to it.
Making lists can be habitual over time, and when you reach that point you become more productive than ever. Psychologists say it takes 21 days of repetition of a task before it becomes a habit. Try making lists for the next 21 days, and then sticking to them. Scott Young also has a good article on making lists.
