November 20, 2023

Getting on top of your to-do list

To do list on a clipboard next to a laptop

Long to-do lists are a big challenge for many of us. Most people feel de-motivated and overwhelmed when they look at a list any longer than 10 different tasks.

One of the problems with long lists, whether at home or work, is that the longer the list, the more likely we are to focus on doing the simple stuff we can do the fastest.

We want to start things off quick and get immediate gratification for our efforts. It also makes the list look shorter.

We may have the intention of doing some more complicated things later in the day, but invariably we get side-tracked. By the end of the day, the list looks just as daunting as it did at the beginning.

Action:
First thing in the morning, identify the three most important tasks that need to be done. Arrange your day to get them done first.

Important step:
Imagine how you will feel when you get those three big jobs done. Feeling good?

Now do them!

My best wishes, Paul

Paul Matthews

CEO and Founder of People Alchemy

share this article:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

related posts

People Matters bootcamp module cover image

Workforce Planning for Skills Volatility

The Skill Forward Bootcamp runs over 5 deep-dive, hands-on learning modules from 25 August to 9 September.  It’s designed for ...
Read More
Learning Transfer at Work book

A note to fellow authors

A little while ago, I was invited to take part in an online author spotlight interview. It sounded like a ...
Read More

A small change to my Monday tips

I have been writing these Monday tips since June 2009. When they began, they were mostly about management development. And ...
Read More
Statues of whipering children

The secret to changing your life

The secret to changing your life Do you want to change something in your life, in your work, in your ...
Read More

search blog

Get your free weekly tip

You agree that we can keep a record of your details, and send you other occasional offers. See our Privacy Policy