How many tasks are on your todo list?
If you are capturing all the things you need to do, then it is probably a pretty long list.
It is more than you can hope to do on any one given day.
Rather than frantically trying to do your entire list, pick the top 5 todos and dedicate yourself to those few tasks.
Todo List vs. Today List
A common time management mistake people make is trying to do their entire todo list every day.
You simply can’t do it all. (No one can.)
Instead, ask yourself, “What are the top todos I should do today?”
Mark the top 5 tasks as your “Today List.” These are the 5 tasks that you will get done today… no matter what.
“Your ‘Today List’ should contain the top 5 tasks that you will absolutely positively get done today.”
Your todo list may be a mile long, but your Today List is your 5 most important tasks. It should always be a subset of your todo list.
These are the todos that will make the biggest difference, and have the biggest impact on your day.
If nothing else gets done, dedicate yourself to these 5 tasks.
Five Tasks Only Please
You may be tempted to put more than 5 tasks on your Today List.
However, five tasks is the most you can keep front-and-center at any one time.
So, pick five tasks and five tasks only. Then complete them.
At the end of your day you can relish in the fact that, no matter what else happened, you got your 5 most important tasks done.
Question: What 5 tasks will you get done today? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Horse riding
Jog and workout
A quick office work wrap up
Learn Google Analytics
Look at some interesting blogs
Great… tomorrow one of the 5 things I will do is learn google analytics from you!
Ordering a new dresser for my daughter.
Ordering my new laptop.
Following appropriate people for a client on Twitter.
Creating a Top Ten List for another client.
Cardio-boxing this evening – yeah!
Write/research blog post
Check some educational resources for blogs
Do blog promotion
Write a todo list for tomorrow
Meet friends
Letter to godchild at Boot Camps (Marines!)
Laundry
Blog Promotion
Unpack
Cook supper
1) Finish off construction project estimations for a new house one client wants to build
2) Add at least 5 pages to my office construction estimation costs database
3) Read at least 3 pages of Brian Tracy’s book, “eat that frog”
4) Set an appointment with the dentist
5) Write at least 2 pages for my new novel
1. Pay the bills.
2. Blog for Monday.
3. Tidy the house.
4. Laundry.
5. Make dinner.