Is Your To Do List The Problem?

You start each week with great intentions. You are determined to get a grip of your workload. You are determined to write a to do list, you even promise yourself that you will stick to it and use it and reprioritise each day so that you finish what you want to every day.

But yet again by Wednesday afternoon life, stuff and your habits have made your Monday morning intentions seem a distant memory and you are back in fire fighting mode with a longer to do list and feeling even more overwhelmed by what you have to do.

Well have you ever stopped to think that it is your to do list that is the problem?

* Perhaps you are not a to do list person?
* Perhaps your to do list has the wrong things on it
* Perhaps your to do list is causing your fire fighting reactions?

Could there be another way to manage your workload? Could there be a better way for you to prioritise? Could there be a better habit for you to adopt?

What if you made one simple mind shift? What if you focused on "to achieve" instead of "to do"?

This mind shift requires that you look at results, goals and achievements rather than individual activities and tasks. To do lists focus on "NOW" and tend to allow reactive decisions. To achieve planning focuses on "RESULTS" and encourages proactive thinking.

You may have a to do list that has items which you consider urgent and you may have items on there that you consider important. It is that distinction that is critical when prioritising what you actually do on a day to day basis.

Is it more important that you react to all your emails as soon as they arrive or is it more important that you keep your regular progress meetings with your team members? Is it more important that you take focused time to plan your sales strategy for the next quarter or is it more important that you react to every phone call?

Only you can determine what is REALLY important and what is important and urgent. This is the way to decide what you need to focus on each day and this is the way to decide "in the heat of the moment" whether you need to stop what you are doing to focus on something else.

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

©2005 Beverley Hamilton

About The Author
Beverley Hamilton is the author of Take Control of Your Time: 7 Straight Shooter Strategies for Success. To learn more, subscribe to Quickstart her free ezine and get more tips, tools and articles visit at One Step Further

NOTE: You're welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered including the "about the author" information at the end.

---

10 Easy Maintenance Tips vs Piling on the Chaos

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

Kids Clutter: Organizing at Every Age

Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More

Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 1

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

Clutter is Postponed Decisions?

Do you ever sit down at your desk buried in... Read More

Clutter Control

Remember when you charged into the office that first day,... Read More

10 Simple Ways to Clear Clutter from Your Home and Office

There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More

The Balance of Balance

Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At... Read More

The Organized Move: Packing Made Simple

(This is the second in a series of three articles... Read More

Organized Living-Secrets About Your Lifes Hidden Power Revealed

An organized living lifestyle can cause you to weed out... Read More

Get Organized: 10 Universal Laws

The Law of the 1st StepA good first step in... Read More

How Can I Deal With It All?

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Have a to-do list a mile... Read More

Addiction to Clutter

Clutter is a big problem for many people. At a... Read More

9 Simple Strategies for Home Organization

Home organization means being able to find your stuff when... Read More

Clutter Campaign - Maintain Your Success

To want in one's heart to do a thing for... Read More

Keep, Get Rid Of, Or Not Sure?

Cleaning out can seem overwhelming -- especially if it's been... Read More

Spruce Your Environment, Spruce Your Spirit

After a long winter, this is the time of year... Read More

5 Easy Steps to Making Housework More Manageable

Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More

Time for a Clean Out

Time has flown. It's been six months since you came... Read More

Can Someone Step Into Your Job Or Role And Function Effectively?

Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux)... Read More

Spring Makeovers: Organizing Tips for the Home and a Virtual Makeover for You

Winter is starting to retreat, and hints of Spring are... Read More

10 Easy Tips for Digging Out Your Desk Today

Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More

5 Steps From Clutter To Control

Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More

Daily Systems Keep You Organized

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

How Much Is Your Time Worth?

Does Your Present Internet Filing System Work?Do You Really Know... Read More

Clear Your Clutter and Free Your Life

Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... 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

Organize Your Desk ? Live Longer!

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

Effective Closet Cleaning Tips - Let Go of More Than Skeletons

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

It?s Spring Cleaning Time? Let?s Make Room For Abundance!

I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More

Three Effortless Ways to Win the Paperwork Battle

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

Organizing Solutions for the Disorganized Entrepreneur

After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More

7 Little Things That You Can Do to Organize the Kids Rooms

1. Sink to their level. Get on your knees in... Read More

Clutter Campaign - Commit Your Time

Decide When And Where To StartDecide when and where to... Read More