Is there really time to get to everything on your task list?
If you’re like most people (myself included) who have a habit of carrying forward dozens of tasks each day, it might feel overwhelming at times to look at that list. I may not be the best at getting everything done every day, but I am good at capturing the task requests that come to me and those that I set for myself related to Goals, Projects, and other personal items.
Admittedly, some of these tasks have been on my task lists for months. I really do have good intentions of getting to all of them, but each day something more important seems to come up.
The one thing that gives me a little sense of peace each day is my Daily Planning
At the beginning of each day, I take a few minutes to review my daily appointments, look at my tasks that have carried over from the previous days, and to add a few things to the list that may have come to me in the shower or via email. Once I feel that I have at least listed everything that is on my mind, I begin to prioritize my list of tasks for the day. Fortunately, I don’t have to re-prioritize my entire list each day. I simply take a look at the new items and compare them to the existing items on my list. Is this new item more important than my existing “A1” task? If not, is it more important than my A2, A3, B1 and on down the line until I can say “yes,” this task IS more
Once I feel that I’ve listed everything that’s on my mind, I begin to prioritize my list of tasks for the day.
Fortunately, I don’t have to re-prioritize my entire list each day. I simply take a look at the new items and compare them to the existing items on my list! Is this new item more important than my existing “A1” task? If not, is it more important than my A2, A3, B1 and on down the line until I can say “yes,” this task IS more important.
I go through that process with each of the new tasks on my list.
I happen to use the Quick Prioritize feature in PlanPlus Online.
The great thing about this approach is that I can always feel confident that I can focus on the ONE item that is on the top of my task list. It IS the most important thing for me.
If I can get Item A1 completed or to a point where I’m waiting on someone else, I move to A2, A3, etc. This process of prioritizing my daily tasks provides me with a sense of confidence that I am keeping the most important thing as the most important thing.
Every day we all have countless interruptions from phone calls, emails, meetings, noisy cubicle neighbors, or barking dogs and screaming kids.
I know that by starting each day with a prioritized task list that I can always have ONE place to go to find the MOST important activity of my day.
