Part of what makes people successful is the ability to choose their priorities.
In the last two posts we've looked at creating Master and Daily Lists as a way of helping one to become more productive with their time.
Part of that process includes choosing which items to make your priorities for the day.
Some things will need to be on those lists because they just need to be done that day. Certain projects with deadlines, appointments that have been scheduled, and so on.
But it can be very easy to fill up a day with things that seem to be important when perhaps they're really not. Sometimes it's worth the time now and again to take a good look at what you are doing and why. Are all these things really necessary? Do they help to move you forward to the goals and dreams you have for your life?
Sometimes there are things that need to be deleted from your lists. Sometimes you need to learn to say NO to yourself and to others.
The best way to plan your Daily List is by being clear about your own Goals & Dreams (see next post).
Showing posts with label priorities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label priorities. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Daily List
In the last post we looked at creating a weekly Master List. So now what do you do with this Master List?
From your Master List you now create your Daily Lists.
Daily lists can take whatever form best suits you. I happen to like a physical list, so I have a daily planner I write in. It could be a notebook or a computer program or app or whatever works best for you.
Doing your Daily List is usually best done at the end of the day (or work day) before. That way you still have the day fresh in your mind and know what needs to be done the next day.
So at the end of the day, check through your master list and choose 2-3 high priority items to schedule in for the next day. Then choose several other items that would be good to get done as well. Don't overfill your Daily List so that you just get yourself frustrated because you can never get it all done.
If you get a project done in less time than you had scheduled for it, you can always get out your Master List and choose some item that you could do in the extra time you now have available.
From your Master List you now create your Daily Lists.
Daily lists can take whatever form best suits you. I happen to like a physical list, so I have a daily planner I write in. It could be a notebook or a computer program or app or whatever works best for you.
Doing your Daily List is usually best done at the end of the day (or work day) before. That way you still have the day fresh in your mind and know what needs to be done the next day.
So at the end of the day, check through your master list and choose 2-3 high priority items to schedule in for the next day. Then choose several other items that would be good to get done as well. Don't overfill your Daily List so that you just get yourself frustrated because you can never get it all done.
If you get a project done in less time than you had scheduled for it, you can always get out your Master List and choose some item that you could do in the extra time you now have available.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Start the Night Before
When do you plan your day?
Are you doing it at the best time?
When is that, you ask?
The day or the evening before.
Why is that?
When you plan your next day the day before - at the end of your day or at the end of your work day - you are fresh from having done the day's work. You know what needs to be done next and you can list it all then and there. And you can decide what is most important to get done and prioritize accordingly.
That way you can start the next day by getting right at what needs to be done.
If you try to do your planning first thing in the morning, you have to think through what you did the day before, and chances are you'll miss things or your brain will still be foggy from sleep.
Besides, if you do it the day or night before, you'll probably not take nearly as much time because you're ready to head home or get on with other things. You have more incentive to get it done and get going.
Are you doing it at the best time?
When is that, you ask?
The day or the evening before.
Why is that?
When you plan your next day the day before - at the end of your day or at the end of your work day - you are fresh from having done the day's work. You know what needs to be done next and you can list it all then and there. And you can decide what is most important to get done and prioritize accordingly.
That way you can start the next day by getting right at what needs to be done.
If you try to do your planning first thing in the morning, you have to think through what you did the day before, and chances are you'll miss things or your brain will still be foggy from sleep.
Besides, if you do it the day or night before, you'll probably not take nearly as much time because you're ready to head home or get on with other things. You have more incentive to get it done and get going.
The Important Things First
Do you want to accompllish something of significance in your life and work?
See, it isn't just about getting a lot done. It's about getting the important things done that matters.
That reminds me of the old object lesson where you are given some rocks, some stones, some gravel, some sand and some water. You are told to put them into a glass jar. If you start with the small stuff first - the water, the sand and the gravel, you'll be lucky if there is much room at all for the stones, and likely none for the rocks.
However, if you put the rocks in first, tuck the stones in between them, shake the gravel down in amongst the stones and rocks, then let the sand filter down, you'll have room enough left for the water too - and it will all fit in.
The secret of course, is to put the largest items in first, then the progressively smaller items.
If we do the same with our plans for the day - put in the most important items first, then all the other stuff will fit in as well. But if we try to start with all the minor, but often easiest things to do, we usually find that we don't have time for the things that really should come first.
Next time you plan your day, take a few minutes to think about what is most important for you to do. Prioritize your list and do the most important things first if at all possible.
See, it isn't just about getting a lot done. It's about getting the important things done that matters.
That reminds me of the old object lesson where you are given some rocks, some stones, some gravel, some sand and some water. You are told to put them into a glass jar. If you start with the small stuff first - the water, the sand and the gravel, you'll be lucky if there is much room at all for the stones, and likely none for the rocks.
However, if you put the rocks in first, tuck the stones in between them, shake the gravel down in amongst the stones and rocks, then let the sand filter down, you'll have room enough left for the water too - and it will all fit in.
The secret of course, is to put the largest items in first, then the progressively smaller items.
If we do the same with our plans for the day - put in the most important items first, then all the other stuff will fit in as well. But if we try to start with all the minor, but often easiest things to do, we usually find that we don't have time for the things that really should come first.
Next time you plan your day, take a few minutes to think about what is most important for you to do. Prioritize your list and do the most important things first if at all possible.
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