How do you make a to-do list
that works?
When it comes to
one of productivity’s most basic elements, the to-do list, everyone has their
own approach. So in this episode of “Secrets of the Most Productive People” we
talked to the creator of the popular bullet journal about how to figure out
what system works for you.
To-do lists are the bread and butter of
productivity gripes. Although it seems like it should be a simple process,
there are many different hacks, systems, and methods that people swear by. Some
people categorize their items, while others cap it at six items a
day. Then there are also those who choose to
forgo it altogether. Fast Company contributor Judith Humphrey,
for example, doesn’t use a to-do list because she believes that it dampens her
creativity and makes her less excited about accomplishing tasks.
Designer Ryder Carroll spent many hours
experimenting with these methods, before finally creating his own methods that
many would soon adopt–the bullet journal. In this episode of Secrets of The Most Productive
People, Carroll shares his to-do list journey, and dispels the
misconceptions that people might have about how it works. As he wrote in The Bullet Journal Method:
Track The Past, Order The Present, Design The Future, “The only thing that matters in BuJo is the
content, not the presentation. If you can elevate both, then my hat’s off to
you. But the only artistic skill required is the ability to draw straight-ish
lines. If you can manage that, then you’ll be fine.”
Carroll acknowledges that the bullet journal
method doesn’t work for everyone–so we also made sure to cover other tips and
tricks to improve your to-do list in our “You might want to write this down”
segment.
THREE TIPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY OUT OF YOUR TO-DO LIST
1. Divide your long list into sections.
Separate out meetings, events, and calls from things that you
hope to accomplish during those times. Then create a separate section of to-dos
that don’t fit in those categories, and work through those when you’re not
attending meetings, are at an event, or in a conference call.
2. Batch similar tasks together.
Answering emails require a different thinking muscle than brainstorming
new revenue streams. Make it easier on your brain by grouping tasks that
require similar thought process together. Don’t try to do your creative work
after spending an hour answering or filing emails. Task switching takes time.
3. Include an anti to-do list.
Sometimes the key to getting things done is to remind yourself what’s
not important. Do you really need to attend to that thing that popped up at
lunch, or would you be better off spending your afternoon tackling that
long-term project? We all have 24 hours in a day, and the reality is, you just
can’t do everything.
You can find the episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you keep a
to-do list? Are there any hacks you swear by? Send us pictures of your to-do
list using the hashtag #FCMostProductive and be sure to subscribe to Secrets
of the Most Productive People so you don’t miss an episode.
·
BY ANISA PURBASARI HORTON https://www.fastcompany.com/90298167/how-to-organize-your-to-do-list-effectively?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=4&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=01302019
No comments:
Post a Comment