People are always asking
me about to-do lists. Do they need to maintain them? How can they go about fixing them? I
don't know anyone in the work-a-day world who doesn't use some kind of list as a tool for
getting things done. I'm neither for nor opposed to any type of system you use to stay
efficient.
The Super Long Strategy
The primary dilemma you face is balancing
short-term versus long-term tasks and activities. I maintain a 12 to 14 page to-do list! I
have hundreds of things on my to-do list arranged by major life priorities. How do I keep
from going crazy? Most of what's on the list are medium to long-range activities.
The first page of my list represents only
the short-term activities. The first items on the list represent things I've chosen to do
now or this week. I continually draw from the 14-page list, and move items to the top as
it becomes desirable, or necessary, to tackle them.
I maintain a dynamic to-do list in the
sense that it contains everything on this earth I want to get done, but I only need to
look at one page, and it's always on top. Although I am forever updating the list and
running a new printout of it, its advantages outweigh this task. I wouldn't think of doing
it any other way.
All the anxiety about the things you want
to get done diminishes once you put everything down on paper. My list is long, and it will
stay long. I don't worry about all the things on the list, because I know I can only get
so much done in one day or one week. I know that I'll periodically review the entire list,
and continually move items from page 8 up to the front. My anxiety stays at a rather low
level.
Not Everything Everyday
Many days, I don't look at pages 2
through 14. Virtually all word-processing programs contain word search capabilities. If
I'm working on something during the day and it appears that there will be a break-through
in my ability to tackle something buried on page 9, I put my word search on, and I quickly
come to the item. There is no need to pour extensively through the hundreds of items
listed.
Maintaining such a long to-do list helps
me to become more proficient in managing long-term or repeated tasks. If something
represents a long-term project, I can continually draw from it those portions that can be
handled in the short-term and move them up to the front page. Likewise, if something is a
repeat or cyclical project, something that I need to do every month or every year, I can
move the portion I choose to get done in the short-term up to the front page.
Consider using the super long to-do
strategy. At the least, you'll have identified everything you face, and have it all on one
gigantic roster. At the most, you may have a tool that will support you for years to come.
Short-circuiting the To-do List
On occasion, you may wish to
short-circuit the to-do list and get stuff done without entering it on your list. Here's
how it works: |
