Do you ever run out of stuff you want to or think you should do?
If you’re like me, probably not.
And you may have, like I used to, tons of ideas and to dos rambling around in your head or scribbled on tiny scraps of paper. This approach clutters your mind as it tries to keep track of dozens or hundreds of items. That’s stressful!
I solved this problem with a process from David Allen’s productivity system which he lays out in his book, Getting Things Done.
Allen suggests capturing all that stuff in one place. On the computer or on paper.
I’ve done this for years now. I keep a running list in my computer, adding and subtracting as needed. Every week or so, I print the list and it goes in my calendar notebook, which I have near me most of the time.
These days I have about an eight page “capture” list. (Hey, that’s ten pages less than it used to be!) It has personal and business items on it, items for this week, this month, or some time further into the future.
This technique, which gets stuff out of my head and onto paper, has really reduced the stress and overwhelm of countless, endless to do’s.
Start with a capture list, add in a way to choose your daily, weekly, and monthly priorities, and you’ll be on your way to less overwhelm and better choices about how you spend the time that is your life.
Thoughts about any of this? Click on Comments below and share them.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Bonnie, I do that too but I’ve got my running list down to less than 2 pages by deleting those to-dos that are not so important. So far no-one’s noticed they didn’t get done
You are right though – way better on paper than rattling around in your head!
I have used a similar system for years. I get lots done, but lists like that are like bailing out the ocean. They never get completed. This is more of a ‘bucket list’ to me.
To get things done and completed so you can toss out your list, keep another list of what you have finished so that you can see how much you have accomplished! I have found that I look back on those accomplishments with much more satisfation than I would have with a shorter list of to-do’s.
The never-ending list is what stresses me out.
B
Hi, Vicky! Thks for stopping by & sharing your experience with this.
Hi, Brenda! A list of accomplishments is a great idea. Thks for sharing that suggestion.
I’m a sticky note nut. EVERYTHING goes on a sticky note. Needless to say, my desk looks like it could take flight at any moment. Today, the notes come down and the list will be put on paper. Thanks for the obvious, yet elusive (for me) idea!
Hi, Kim! Thks for dropping by here. Glad you found this idea useful. Let me know how it works for you. But maybe a desk that looks like it could take flight isn’t all that bad.