The Tyranny of To Do Lists

Ever fall victim to the Tyranny of the To-Do list?

I like lists. When I'm planning a big purchase, I compare lists of features. When making a big decision, I still hand-write a list of pros and cons. I've even added completed items to a to-do list just for the satisfaction of crossing them off!

But I've also realized that to-do lists are not the most effective way to be effective. It's easy to move down a list task by task or to jump around to more pleasant tasks while avoiding the hard but necessary items.

I still keep a list of things I need to get done - I'd be lost without it. But I've also started two new lists (I told you I like lists). At the beginning of each week, I write down the three most important things I need to get done - these could be coaching conversations, project updates, long-range planning, or a myriad of other goals for the week. I also make a daily list of the top three things I need to get done that day.

When it's time to move on to the next thing, I check my weekly and daily priorities before choosing what to work on next. This way, I ensure I'm making progress on my important goals and not just filling my time by crossing items off the list.

Though coffee is still first on every list!