Is Your Todo List a Black Hole of Productivity?

Is your todo list a black hole of productivity? Do you put things on your todo list that never get done?  That never see the light of day again?

You do a good job of putting things on your list, but are not so good at doing what is on your list.

The good news it that capturing what you need to do is an important first step. However, executing on that list is equally important.

How to Keep Your Todo List From Becoming a Black Hole

The trap that many fall into is that after they construct their todo list, they never look at it again.  They are great at putting things on a list, a piece of paper, or a Post-It note, but then never return to it.

If you want your todo list to drive your productivity, then you need to give it center stage when determining what you need to be doing.

Here are some ways to keep your todo list from becoming a black hole:

One List

Having a list is important.  But, most specifically, have one list.  Too many people fall into the trap of having multiple lists.  They add one task to their computer-based list and then write something else down on their paper list.  Their todos end up being spread out and it becomes easy to lose sight of them.

Keep It Simple

The simplest list is usually the best.  Don’t get lost in complicated lists.  Some time management systems have people sorting their lists into contexts, locations, and next actions.  The todo list becomes unnecessarily complicated and the user drowns in information.  Make sure you keep your list action oriented, but don’t burden your list with extraneous details.

Keep it Visible

Visibility leads to action.  The biggest mistake people make is not looking at their todo list after they make it.  If you bury your todo list in a pile of papers, or it is invisible inside your cell phone, you will not be aware of what you still need to do.  Seeing your list drives your productivity.  This is especially true during in-between times.  You may just find that extra task that you could get done in those few extra minutes.  (Instead of surfing the news before that next meeting/class.)

Purge Regularly

Just like your email inbox, you need to purge your todo list regularly.  I am not suggesting that your list will ever be empty.  However, if you do not review items all the way to the bottom, you will not find older tasks that are rotting on there.  Remember, tasks undone can actually create more work for you.

Close The List

This is a powerful technique.  Close your todo list at a certain time.  Say around 10AM.  Draw a line under what is going to be accomplished today.  All new comers will be added to the bottom of the list for consideration tomorrow.

How do you keep your todo list from being a black hole?  What strategies do you use?

Related Posts:

Kill the Tasks, Not the Todo List

Tasks Undone Create More Work

The Visible Todo list