Handling To-Do's Requires Efficiency

Published: Jan 24, 2005

Application

Elsewhere we wrote about how excessive handling of tasks can accumulate into wasted hours.

Likewise, when you leave your "To-Do" projects exposed in your active work space, you are putting yourself at risk to waste time.

Projects on your desk not scheduled for today may have to be moved to access something else. Each move is a handling which takes time, however brief, that adds up after awhile.

When you are tempted to shuffle through the project on your desk without doing much about it, you waste minutes, if not hours. Remember to multiply by the number of times you've repeated the same action.

Must we go on with other samples? Probably not if you recognize this behavior pattern in yourself and are capable of calculating the unproductive hours you have expended.

Projects classified as "To Do Some Other Day" should be removed from your work space that holds current activities. Place the project in a container or location where it will not interfere with today's work and not be overlooked tomorrow. Eventual work on the project can be ensured by scheduling it in a diary or in a reliable "Bring Forward" file or device. The recall can be scheduled by date or to coincide with some event.

Don't waste any part of today fussing over tomorrow's task. Avoid tempting yourself to do so.

Stories

A Round-to-it Gift

A favorite office gift is a coaster with the words, "Round-to-it" printed on it. It came with a note reading, "You've always said you were going to get a Round-to-it someday."

Submitted by: Nephew Gerry

Outcomes

Maintaining your focus on what you can accomplish today.
Out of sight - out of mind. At least, for today.

Handling To-Do's Requires Efficiency

Application

Stories

A Round-to-it Gift

Outcomes

Related Topics