Today I am not getting much done! Today… I know what it is to flounder. But yesterday I achieved a great deal.
So what’s the difference between today and yesterday (yes… apart from the obvious that yesterday is gone… :-))?
Well having thought about it I came up with this one difference. Yesterday I had a list! Now Kerrie has told me to write lists many times over and occasionally I have done just that. But today I really noticed the difference.
My tip for today is this.
Write a list and cross or tick it off as you go. (Feels great). I just do it on a pad of paper then scrunch it up and put it in the bin when it’s all done. (That feels even better.)
If you don’t complete your list, transfer the unfinished items to a new list (that way you still get to throw the old one out) so you can complete on the list from day before and not get despondent by not finishing.
Remember Today is a new day and has no mistakes in it.
For bigger goals I write them in my journal (the one Kerrie gave me and here is a shameless plug – Get your very own journal Click Here Now – ok… back to it). I also have a goal book, but more on that in another blog.
Hope this has been helpful and you are able to become even more productive.
Blue skies
Lyndon
Great tips Lyndon & very effective. The last few years I have adopted this approach & can I say “it works”. As a Construction Site Foreman with some 200 men running around the project this is a must, without it I would drown & find myself looking for another job!
Discipline is the key in all this, it’s really quite easy once you know it works & start seeing the results. Adopting this particular approach helps assist your mind to relax knowing that it has been documented & will not be forgotten, thus allowing for a good nights sleep (believe me I need it after a days work). All of this takes good organisational skills & determination.
I like to prioritise my list & work my way through it, like a numbering system. Firstly I write down all the points that need attention & then place 1 to 10 for example from the most important to the least. I agree yes it does feel great to complete your list, however I choose not to toss it into the bin but rather file the list at close of business. Numerous times this humble piece of paper with writing only I can read has keeped me out of gaol.
Whilst it is easy enough to transfer your incomplete items to another day sheet, however this can become a little messy if an accerted effort isn’t applied everyday. The attitude of “Oh well I’ll just add it to tomorrows list” isn’t good enough. It implies an incorrect attitude towards your approach. But in saying that, it doesn’t mean you bash yourself up over it. It simply means tommorows list just got bigger (potentially) :).
So here’s my tip. Make every effort to close out your list with a well planned day & a positive attitude certainly goes a long way….Sleep well!
Daryl
Comment posted March 3, 2009 @ 6:01 am
Thanks for your comment Daryl,
You have some really great tips and make a good point about keeping your completed list. When I Was in real estate everything was kept and even last year some of had to be dug up.
Thanks again for your contribution.
Lyndon
Comment posted March 3, 2009 @ 8:43 am
Great comments Daryl, I particularly like what you said about allowing your mind to relax because items on your list have been documented, great for us early onset Alzheimer’s sufferers, I keep my lists too, in Outlook tasks. I think the defining elements of a successful list are prioritizing and knowing just how much you can achieve in a day, realistically. I love lists!
Annette
Comment posted March 12, 2009 @ 9:47 pm