Is Your “To Do” List Actually a “To Don’t” List?

Raise your hand if you have an item on your to-do list that’s been there since, oh, the Reagan Administration.

Perhaps you have a nagging task that is so old it could be considered “vintage.”

Have you ever scanned down to the bottom of the list and giggled at the last entry? (“Pick up leisure suit from dry cleaner.”)

Here’s a radical idea: if your “to do” list isn’t motivating you, it might be time for a new approach. At the very least, you might as well call it what it really is: a “To Don’t” list!

The Problem

Let’s start with what the experts have to say about this. Both David Allen (task management guru and author of Getting Things Done) and the late Dr. Stephen Covey (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) would both scoff at to-do lists.

In fact, they would go so far as to call them a waste of time.

The problem with the typical to-do list is that it tends to focus on those things that must get done in order to stay out of trouble.

Am I right? Look at your list right now. Did I nail that?

You will also find that your to-do list is full of other people’s priorities. Again, check it and see if I’m right about this.

I would further be willing to suggest that your list is full of drudgery and very little excitement. There are a lot of things that just plain bum you out on your list, right?

Finally, the list is full of things you don’t actually want to do.

I KNOW I’m right on that one!

A Different Approach

Let me suggest an alternative way to plan your activities:

First of all, find a dedicated time to plan your week, and make doing that a habit.

Friday afternoons are ideal for me. I never (ever!) finish every task by the end of the week so I use that time every Friday to prioritize what happens the following week.

Doing this allows me to take a mental break over the weekend. If something pops into my brain on Saturday or Sunday,  I tell myself: “I don’t need to think about that – I already have it assigned on my schedule for the coming week.”

Next, don’t start with your to-do list. Set that aside. I can assure you that there are few things on the list of any lasting value.

Instead, write a “Killer Week” list. Ask yourself this question during your weekly planning session: What would an absolutely killer week look like? What could I look back on Friday afternoon and say, “Yes! Look at all I did that actually matters!” You won’t find two-bit petty stuff on that list.

Here is the good news. When you approach things this way you’ll find that accomplishing the really important tasks actually gives you energy and drive to knock other stuff off the list as well.

Handle the big stuff and the small stuff seems like a walk in the park. Trust me on this!

A Bit of Encouragement

You might as well come to grips with the fact that you will never be caught up. Ever.

You will have tasks with you always. And since you’ll never be caught up, you might as well focus your attention on things that really matter.

Free yourself from your archaic, depressing to-do list, write a killer new one based on your true priorities, and you will change your world!


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About the Author: Jeff Shore

Jeff Shore is the Founder and CEO of Shore Consulting, Inc. a company specializing in psychology-based sales training programs. Using these modern, game-changing techniques, Jeff Shore’s clients delivered over 145,000 new homes generating $54 billion in revenue last year.