How to keep to-do lists and not be distracted by nonsense

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Being productive is not easy. But if you skillfully make to-do lists, help yourself not to be distracted and properly tune, it is quite possible to complete most of the planned tasks.

Here are seven simple tricks that business and time management experts advise.

1. Make a to-do list for the next day in the evening

If in the morning at work you have no idea what you need to do today, most likely you will spend the day splattering yourself on small insignificant matters. Try to make a to-do list in the evening, then the next morning you will know exactly what needs to be done.

Plan an estimated time for each task to make it easier to stick to your schedule (and don't forget to include a couple of breaks). You can mark the most important things with an asterisk or somehow highlight them.

2. Don't start your day with email

Do not be distracted by email in the morning, it is better to immediately start the first task on your list. And set aside half an hour to parse mail, for example, at 11:00 and 15:00. You can do a lot more this way.

And if you can't help answering all your calls and emails right away, just switch your phone to silent mode and turn off notifications.

3. Tackle the hard right away

We often start the day with small tasks, postponing the most important thing until later, but this way we only stretch out unpleasant anticipation and increase stress. Better to take on the things you don't feel like doing right away and enjoy the pride when you're done. The rest of the business will now go like clockwork.

4. Save time in meetings

If you have the opportunity, set aside just enough time for meetings to have time to discuss everything. Invite only those who really need to attend.

Don't waste time with verbal explanations. It is better to provide information in writing. If everyone had written out the basic information in advance, the meetings themselves would have been spent only on making decisions and would not have taken so much time.

5. Cheer yourself up

When we doubt ourselves, we begin to avoid difficulties. So try to cheer yourself up and trust that you can handle everything. Think back to the last time you successfully completed a complex project. This will make it easier for you to get started and will no longer want to procrastinate.

6. Take breaks

Of course, we all want our working day to be as productive as possible, and sometimes we are even ashamed to take breaks. However, short breaks are necessary. They will help you reboot your brain and gain strength, as well as do more when you get back to work.

In order not to forget about breaks, try the well-known Pomodoro method (we work for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes). Or any other method. The main thing is to stick to it all the time. Extensions that block access to certain sites like Facebook and VKontakte will also help.

7. Throw out the to-do list at the end of the day

If you haven't done everything that you planned for the day, do not leave this unfinished list for tomorrow. It will only lower your morale. Throw away such a list and make a new one, in which include unfinished business for today and new items.