In the final part of the Managing Your Time series let’s look at a really simple tool that will help you manage your time better. It’s a tool that’s often overlooked but it is incredibly valuable if you want to make sure that you even come close to getting everything done that you have to do each day.
It’s a list … yep just a simple list of the things that you need to do. It can be as high-tech as you want … there are apps that you can install on your smartphone or tablet and there are websites that allow you to make lists online but in my humble opinion nothing beats a pen and paper and down below is my list for yesterday.
Yesterday’s little list
That list is about as low-tech as you can get. I have a pad of note paper on my desk and at the start of every morning I tear off a sheet and scribble the list of things that I need to do for that.
While I make no attempt to prioritize the list I generally put the jobs that I do every day at the top and from then on it’s basically a brain dump.
The jobs I had to do yesterday included quite a bit of writing for some of our clients as well as putting the finishing touches and adding extra security to a client’s new website.
It might look like a rather scary list but in fact I got more done than I thought I would.
Once I had the list in front of me it became something of a roadmap for me throughout the day. The first two items on the list are things I do every day so they were done first and from there on I jumped around the list as thoughts about what I should write popped into my head.
As each task was completed I crossed it off the list.
Today’s little list – fewer things but they’ll take longer
As you can see there are two items on that list that I didn’t get to so they’ve been carried forward to today’s list … in fact the ‘Fonts’ job has been appearing on my list for weeks because it’s not urgent but it is a job that I need to get done for a client at some point and if I don’t keep it on my list I will probably forget about it.
Yesterday also happened to be full of distractions but that list kept me focused on the work I needed to get done and that’s what it can do for you.
Your list doesn’t have to be involved or formal … you can put anything on it that you want. The word ‘dinner’ will often appear on my list just to remind me that it’s my turn to cook dinner so I need to get something out of the freezer.
You can even share your list with those you work with. Toni will sometimes come into my office here at home just before she leaves for her office down town to see what’s on my list and whether or not I have room for a few extra jobs that she might want me to do for her.
A simple written list of things you need to achieve each day can help you get those things done but you should never let it rule your life. If you work for yourself then you need to stay flexible.
If something urgent crops up don’t hide behind your list … get that urgent work done. Your list will always be there to help youregain your focus once the urgent work is completed.
I think it was one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s characters who was always making a little list … and now it’s time you joined the ranks of list-makers who get things done every day.
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