A list of options vs. A to-do list

I have read several time management books for business. People expect me to have read them if I am going to help them with their time management skills. (Productivity is a better word for it.) They all use many of the same ideas with different key words to help you be more productive. Within the last two weeks, while taking a class through ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization), Erin Elizabeth Wells articulated an idea that I just do.

Many people think that getting the right tools will magically make them have better productivity skills. The right tools are important but there is no one right tool. The right tool for you is the one you will use. But more importantly than having the right tool is having the right mind set.

We tend to think about our to-do list as if it was a slave driver. Probably because what is on most of our lists is what we (or others) think we should be doing. It’s not a to-do list; it is a have-to-do list. What we want to do doesn’t make it on to the list. Meaning it isn’t getting done at all or maybe worse we are doing whatever it is and then beating ourselves up for not be doing what is on our to-do list. Making the to-do list something we begin to hate. Here is an idea-everything we need to do for work, feel we have to do for our family members or want to do for ourselves should all go on the same to-do list. Transforming our have-to-do list into a “menu of choices” as Wells calls it or a list of options. I am not suggesting that you put “watch cat videos on youtube” on your list but I am suggesting that you put write a poem, draw, paint, read a book for pleasure. These are all good things that renew our spirit therefore they are productive.

You should only have one master to-do that you look at daily at least. For each day have a today list with only three and five items (Well says four but here is where I tweak things to make them fit individuals.) on it that you have chosen to do that day. When other tasks come up during the day, you can choose to do it, capture it on your master to do list or delegate it.

Here is another earth shattering concept – Let go of the idea that you need to finish everything on your list. The odds are that you will still have items on your list on the day that you die. It really isn’t that big a deal for most of the items on your list. There are biggies like paying your taxes or mortgage but cleaning the house can probably wait a day if you want to paint or write.

Here are the big take-aways in case you missed them.

1. Everything should go on one master list of options (AKA your to-do list).
2. Look at your master list daily.
3. Make a today list for each day with 3-5 items your choose for that day.
4. As tasks come up, add them to your today list, capture them on the master list of options or delegate them.