The 6 lists you need to make each day productive
The 6 Lists You Need To Make E Ach Day Productive
The 6 lists you need to make each day productive
You might make a daily to-do list. But have you ever thought of making a project list or outsource list?
Thinking is brain work, not filing a long list of daily tasks.
Paula Rizzo, author of Listful Thinking: Using Lists to Be More Productive, Highly Successful, and Less Stressed, says, “When you're juggling too many tasks at once, you can forget about a couple of tasks. So lists are very useful for getting things done while staying on target.”
Rizzo, a senior health producer at Fox News, regularly creates checklists of questions and tasks. After starting apartment hunting in New York, he realized how important a list is in any situation, if used correctly.
He said, “Many people want to make a list, but don't know how to make a list that will work for them. The key is to create the right list and be smart about using it.”
Below are 6 list names that will make your day more efficient and productive.
1. Specific And Purposeful To-Do List
Creating a to-do list may seem like a simple task, but Rizzo says most people can't do it successfully. Agenda should be specific and objective. Put only those tasks on the agenda that you have the time and means to do. Break down big goals and tasks into smaller tasks.
Pay attention to the timing first. Make a to-do list at the end of the day. Decide what tasks you need to complete the next day. Make a list of necessary phone calls, emails and appointments. That way, when you go to work the next day, you'll have a roadmap and a good start.
It's good to match the tasks on the to-do list with your productivity. Do tasks that require more focus/attention, such as writing, early in the day, when there is no stress. Put small tasks such as phone calls or emails at the bottom of the list. When feeling relatively exhausted, do them. When things distract you during the day, revisit the to-do list.
If you can't complete a task, re-evaluate the task. Ask yourself if the task needed to be done today? Do I have enough time and resources to do the work? Can I have someone else do the work? If the task is important, put it on tomorrow's list as well.
2. Outsourcing List
Successful leaders and entrepreneurs often do tasks themselves that can be outsourced because the task takes no more than a couple of minutes. But just because you can do a job doesn't mean you have to do it.
It is always better not to waste your time and talent on small tasks. So take a good look at your to-do list and ask yourself, am I the only one who can do this?
Place tasks that can be outsourced on the outsourcing list. Training others to do your tasks may seem time-consuming at first, but it will save you a lot of time later, during which you can do more important things. Your outsourcing list becomes someone else's to-do list.
3. List Of Long-Term Goals
A list of long-term goals and dreams will enrich your achievements. Research has shown that making a to-do list increases your chances of completing it by 33% because it creates a goal and sets your intention in motion.
Create long-term goals for yourself and your company. Then review and re-evaluate it at regular intervals. Mark the tasks that have been done and cross off the list of tasks that you no longer want or need to do.
4. List Of Pros And Cons
Make a pros-cons list when making important decisions like starting a partnership or starting a new business. By doing this you can think more deeply.
The best way to create this list is to write it down and leave it for a while. Later when you can think clearly, look at the list again. You can share this list with your friends, asking them to help you find more pros and cons. This will make it easier to make good decisions.
5. Project List
When you work on a project with many others, create a project list to break down the project and divide the work among everyone. This will make it easier to avoid micromanaging. Rizzo recommends using online software like 'asana' (link: asana.com) or 'Basecamp' in this regard.
These softwares will do the work of dividing the projects into small parts and dividing the work among everyone. Everyone will see how far everyone's work has gone. Because then everyone has access to all members' to-do lists. This will save you from the hassle of exchanging numerous emails, as all the necessary project information is stored in one place.
6. Talking Points List
Before an important meeting or phone call, make a list of what you want to discuss. This reduces the risk of forgetting an important topic.
