The Problem With To-Do Lists

Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying to check off the items on that list? Too satisfying perhaps?

More than once I've found myself adding something I've already done to my daily list. I get to check it off then, you see. I get "credit" for all the things I've done. Whatever satisfaction this may give, it's also an indication I'm confusing effectiveness with just being busy.

Do To-Do Lists Help?

Of course it helps to write down meetings and events and necessary tasks. The problem is we sometimes start to work for the list, and then the list may not work well for us. It's easy to feel like you're getting a lot done when you have a list to "prove" it. The question is whether you are getting the important things done.

It seems so reasonable to sort my files again right now. I would feel good to cross that off the list. I have many such things that show up on my to-do lists, giving me plenty of opportunities to avoid more dificult things, like writing this article. This is what I need to be doing, however.

A Better To-Do List

Prioritise your list. You can put the more important things at the top, or put a mark next to them. Then start doing the important things first every day. If, like myself, you need the satisfaction of crossing off the small things on the list, do those only as a reward - after you do one of the important tasks.

Make sure the most important things get on your lists. That big trip to Nepal you're going to take "someday," may never happen until you break it into steps you can put on your list. In fact, it may be worthwhile to stop list-making altogether, until you clarify what IS important to you.

To break my list-dependency, I put things on my list just so I can ignore them to do more important things. You don't want to just "get busy," do you? If you want to move towards real values, you need to make your to-do lists work for you. Put that on your list for today.

Steve Gillman writes on many self help topics including boosting brainpower, losing weight, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, learning gratitude, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.selfimprovementnow.com

---

Organization Tips - How to Organise Your Computer Files

Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More

Identifying the Rocks: Organizing Your Priorities

In one of my favorite books, First Things First, written... Read More

What Balance Looks Like For You

Recently, in an online group, we talked about "balance" and... Read More

Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 1

Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More

Managing Mealtime Madness

It is 5:00 pm and Cindy has no idea what... Read More

10 Easy Maintenance Tips vs Piling on the Chaos

Whether you are in your own business or an employee... Read More

The Natural Law of Attrition

I'm cheap and proud of it.I use and re-use things... Read More

Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 2

In part 1, we discussed a system you could use... Read More

Organize Your Desk ? Live Longer!

It may seem far-fetched, but by organizing your desk, your... Read More

Clutter & Creativity

Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More

Spring into Spring

Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More

Tossing and Turning

"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More

Family Management Tip #2: Choosing the Right Organizer for Your Family

What method do you currently use to organize your family?... Read More

Clutters Side Effects: How the State of Your Home Affects Your Life

Each area of your home has a symbolic meaning with... Read More

Basic Organizing Principles

So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More

How to Prevent Piles of Paper!

If you have piles of paper all over your desk,... Read More

Daily Systems Keep You Organized

Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More

Organizing for Today, Tomorrow and the Next Day

Getting organized is hard. If it weren't, we wouldn't put... Read More

Organization and the Opposite Sex

In many of the companies I have worked in, there... Read More

Your Organizing DNA

Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More

Give Up Control to Get Control

For some reason, Americans think they have something to prove... Read More

The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Organizing Your Kids Rooms

1. In terms of organization, what is the first thing... Read More

Breathing Life Into Dead Spaces

"I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More

Making Life Easier, with NLP Chunking!

You know, in psychology there is a rule, especially within... Read More

The Clutter Campaign - Design Your Vision

I like a room you can dance in the middle... Read More

Have an Ugly Day

"Do something every day that you don't want to-do; this... Read More

The Magnificent 7: Tips for Cleaning Up Clutter

Clutter is postponed decisions®. Here are some suggestions to simplify... Read More

Balance - And Other Things

The Mexican VillagerThe American investment banker was at the pier... Read More

Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More

Are You Stuck In The Clutter Trap?

You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More

Organization Tips - How to Set Up Your Database

What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More

Effective Closet Cleaning Tips - Let Go of More Than Skeletons

I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More

Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle

Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More