10 Tips to Get Those Must Do Tasks Done

You start your day and you have those few tasks that you tell yourself that you must get done today.

You know how important they are. Perhaps, you write them down on a piece of paper or post-it note, and you tell yourself that you will get them done… no matter what.

Yet, when you get to the end of the day, you have either forgotten about them or just simply haven’t gotten to them.

Why does this happen and how can you make sure that those “must do” tasks get done?

Must Done Requires Must Do

You say you “must do” something… yet it continues to slip.

You put it off and it seems like days or weeks since you said it would get done.

To get your most important work done you have to put it ahead of everything else in your day. Otherwise it will continue to get pushed off until you can’t remember when you said it “must be done.”

Always put your “must do” tasks ahead of everything else on your list.

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Here are 10 Tips to Get Those Must Do Tasks to Done:

1. Do Them Early – Always put your must do tasks first. Do them before you start your day. I try to do mine before I even leave the house in the morning. Get up early and get your must do tasks done before your busy day begins.
2. Prioritize Them – You have a todo list, but are your must do tasks prioritized above your other tasks? Keeping a long list of todos is important to track your todos. However, your must do tasks should be separated from your regular and lower importance work.
3. Make Them Visible – After you have prioritized your must do tasks, make them visible. Put them at the top of your list. If you have a paper list highlight them in a bright color. Whatever you need to do to make your must do tasks stand out. Visibility leads to action and will also keep you from forgetting them as you work through your day.
4. Schedule an Appointment – If you are having trouble getting to your must do tasks, you need to schedule them right on your calendar. Make an appointment with your must do tasks. That way you’ll be assured of getting around to them.
5. Devote Extra Resources to Them – Must Do tasks should receive extra resources. More time, energy and effort than you think that they will require. Overdo it when it comes to those must do items. Overpower them with your productivity efforts.
6. Do Them to Done – Starting must do tasks is key. However, don’t start them and not take them to the finish. Tasks left undone only create more work later. Start those must do tasks… but finish them before you start something else.
7. Get Help – If you aren’t able to get your must do tasks by yourself get help from someone who will assist you in getting them done. Maybe you need an expert or someone with experience in completing that task.
8. Have Someone Hold You Accountable – It’s easy to let yourself off the hook. However, letting others down can be a powerful motivator. Have someone hold you accountable to your must do tasks and make sure you report to that person when the tasks are complete.
9. Delegate Them – If you can’t get to your must do tasks, then delegate them to someone who can get them done. This is not about passing the buck, but rather leveraging others to get your work done. If you have a team, or family members, or an assistant, utilize them to help you get your work done.
10. Don’t Go To Bed – Hold yourself accountable. Before you go to bed, check your must do items. If they are still undone at the end of your day, then stay up until they are done. Holding firm to your must do list will ensure that you do a better job getting them done earlier in the day.

Get Those Must Do Tasks Done

You can’t do everything on your list in one day. But, you can dedicate your efforts to complete those must do tasks on your list.

When it comes to your “must be done” tasks, do them first and do them to done.

Question: How do you ensure that you get your ‘must do’ tasks completed during your day? You can leave a comment by clicking here.