Learn more about personaldevelopment with this collection
How to set clear objectives
How to follow up after a meeting
How to manage time effectively
Not Being Specific
Be as specific as you can be, so that when you’re taking on a task on the fly, you can just get it done. For example, instead of writing “expense report” on your to-do list, write “enter receipts into spreadsheet.”
And skip the vague-sounding action words, such as “plan,” “implement,” or “develop” from your list of tasks.
3.67K
9.27K reads
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Writing The List In The Morning
Although it might feel natural to create your to-do list first thing in the morning, it's too late.
Writing the list at the end of the day allows you to leave work behind and transition into personal time.
4.7K
16.5K reads
Using The Same List Until It’s Done
Every day changes, so what you did today is not what you will do tomorrow. And what you think you are going to do tomorrow may change before today is over.
Instead, create a fresh list for each day.
3.49K
9.2K reads
Including Too Many Tasks
Ideally, create a ‘top three’ tasks at the beginning of your to-do list.
Long lists are a problem because most people aren’t aware that “we only have about three to six good hours of work in us each day.”
People also tend to underestimate how long a ...
4.25K
12K reads
Not Linking Your List And Calendar
“If you have a full calendar and a full to-do list that aren’t connected, you’ll never have time to take action on your to-do list, short of robbing yourself of sleep, family time, weekend relaxation, or vacation.”
Instead, block out time on your calendar to take action on your to-d...
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10K reads
Including Someday Items
Aspirational tasks, like writing a book, don’t belong on a to-do list; instead, create a separate bucket list.
Daily to-do lists should be focused. If you have a big project you want to complete, you can put it on your to-do list if you chunk it out into smaller, more attainable ta...
3.64K
11K reads
Treating Each Item Equally
If it’s not a priority, it should not be on the list. Follow the 3-3-3 system when writing out your list:
- Delete three of the items since they probably aren’t that important.
- Delegate three of the items to someone else, as they...
4.07K
10.9K reads
CURATED FROM
These Seven To-Do List Mistakes Could Be Derailing Your Productivity
fastcompany.com
7 ideas
·79K reads
CURATED BY
"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. " ~ Abraham Lincoln
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Be specific
- Don't let your to-do list be vague, undefined, and unclear. Any action on your to-do list must have a particular outcome.
- Consider how important each task is and what time frame you have to complete those tasks.
- Group similar tasks together.
- ...
6. Phrase Tasks Better
Re-write each task so they are sentences that begin with a verb and have a clear outcome. Not offering detailed instructions or using vague words makes the task seem daunting and unapproachable.
For bigger tasks that can’t be turned into a specific action, it needs ...
A Specific Daily To-Do List
- You should only put things on a to-do list that you have the time and resources to achieve.
- Big goals and projects should be broken down into actionable tasks.
- It helps to match the action with your productivity levels. ...
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