To-Do Lists Can Dramatically Increase Productivity
Do you think Julius Caesar worried that Marcus Brutus kept a to-do list? Perhaps he should have!
So how do you manage your to-do list? WHAT … you don’t have one? Better start one today! One of the biggest challenges we have in our fast-paced world is we are bombarded with information. So much so, it makes it increasingly difficult to remember everything we need to. How much could a missed commitment to a valued client cost you?
A to-do list will make you much more productive! Guaranteed!
To do lists are not only for your business items but personal tasks as well. It doesn’t matter what system you use, be it paper or one of many excellent software programs on the market today, as long as you use it. I find Microsoft Outlook works well for me; I print a hard copy of my day’s appointments and tasks. I know! I’m so old school! However, with this list at the ready, I can add and update my list with ease. It also syncs to my phone so I never lose track of what I need to do! It only takes me a few minutes at the end of the day to update my electronic version.
How To-do Lists Work
To-do lists work like this; if your brain knows that you are recording tasks that need to be done, subconsciously it relaxes. It doesn’t attempt to keep looping the task around which adds to your stress as you tend to react is some way each time you “remember.”
Color Coding
To-do lists make you productive in another way as well. Pick your favorite color … go out and buy that color highlighter. When you complete a task, stroke it out with the highlighter. Your brain will begin to associate the color with success. Within 30 days you will look forward to completing the tasks and the color reward you see. You’ll become more organized and actually look forward to adding more tasks to your list with the extra time you have freed up. As productivity increases so will your personal success – guaranteed!
Small Wins
Personally, I get great satisfaction from crossing something off my to-do list, another reason I print it out! The other day, I was burning through my tasks at break-neck speed when I realized I had done several things that I had forgotten to even add to the list. Just to get the trill, I added each item then immediately crossed through it. Sometimes, you have to celebrate the little wins in life!
