Comments on: How to Do Less: Simplifying Your To-Do List http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/07/how-to-do-less-simplifying-your-to-do-list/ Have less, enjoy more. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:36:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Work Happy Now! » How Transitions Can Dramatically Improve Your Productivity http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/07/how-to-do-less-simplifying-your-to-do-list/comment-page-1/#comment-2140 Work Happy Now! » How Transitions Can Dramatically Improve Your Productivity Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:30:27 +0000 http://www.onsimplicity.net/?p=128#comment-2140 [...] Step 4: Then right before you start, notice how you feel before you begin your next task. This last step is most important. Why? Because it reinforces the good that you do when you take time to process, relax and set yourself up for your next task. The only way to change a bad habit and replace it with a good one is to show yourself that the new one is worth doing. If you do this once an hour, that’s only eight minutes in an eight hour work day. We can all spare eight minutes to reduce our stress and improve our productivity. [...] [...] Step 4: Then right before you start, notice how you feel before you begin your next task. This last step is most important. Why? Because it reinforces the good that you do when you take time to process, relax and set yourself up for your next task. The only way to change a bad habit and replace it with a good one is to show yourself that the new one is worth doing. If you do this once an hour, that’s only eight minutes in an eight hour work day. We can all spare eight minutes to reduce our stress and improve our productivity. [...]

]]> By: Sara http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/07/how-to-do-less-simplifying-your-to-do-list/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Sara Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:12:33 +0000 http://www.onsimplicity.net/?p=128#comment-761 Hi Joel, I'm loving the idea that by restricting yourself, you're really creating freedom for yourself. That's a frickin' awesome way of looking at things! Hi Joel,

I’m loving the idea that by restricting yourself, you’re really creating freedom for yourself. That’s a frickin’ awesome way of looking at things!

]]> By: Joel Falconer http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/07/how-to-do-less-simplifying-your-to-do-list/comment-page-1/#comment-759 Joel Falconer Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:46:19 +0000 http://www.onsimplicity.net/?p=128#comment-759 Good stuff, Sara—I'm right there with you when it comes to simplicity in the to-do list. Along the lines of restricting the number of items on the list: as you said, only list what you can get done in a given day, and then I like to put a "priority asterisk" next to only three items on that list. No more than that. They're the items that I <i>must</i> get done in a day. It's all about restricting yourself and not going overboard. Almost every time I tell someone I'm coaching not to use the asterisk on more than three tasks, they do it anyway, and then ask me why it's not working. ;) Good stuff, Sara—I’m right there with you when it comes to simplicity in the to-do list.

Along the lines of restricting the number of items on the list: as you said, only list what you can get done in a given day, and then I like to put a “priority asterisk” next to only three items on that list. No more than that. They’re the items that I must get done in a day.

It’s all about restricting yourself and not going overboard. Almost every time I tell someone I’m coaching not to use the asterisk on more than three tasks, they do it anyway, and then ask me why it’s not working. ;)

]]> By: Sara http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/07/how-to-do-less-simplifying-your-to-do-list/comment-page-1/#comment-753 Sara Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:34:38 +0000 http://www.onsimplicity.net/?p=128#comment-753 Hi Natural, You know, momentum is a huge part of actually getting things done. I'm very torn between tackling the hardest items first and feeling accomplished, or doing the little things right off and building that momentum. I really like your idea of limits. I think I tend to overlook limits and then burn out on certain tasks before they're complete. Thanks for the food for thought! Hi Natural,

You know, momentum is a huge part of actually getting things done. I’m very torn between tackling the hardest items first and feeling accomplished, or doing the little things right off and building that momentum.

I really like your idea of limits. I think I tend to overlook limits and then burn out on certain tasks before they’re complete.

Thanks for the food for thought!

]]> By: Natural http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/07/how-to-do-less-simplifying-your-to-do-list/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Natural Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:15:35 +0000 http://www.onsimplicity.net/?p=128#comment-748 short but sweet list. it's helpful to me if i specify things i want to do. rather than say organize photos, i might say label the first 100 photos today. i have too many photos to organize, so by being specific and limiting myself help. today i worked on my forum. it's not finished, but i did just enough to feel a bit of accomplishment. doing what's easy on the to-do list first build momentum and i'm likely to do more, but less at a time. short but sweet list. it’s helpful to me if i specify things i want to do. rather than say organize photos, i might say label the first 100 photos today. i have too many photos to organize, so by being specific and limiting myself help.

today i worked on my forum. it’s not finished, but i did just enough to feel a bit of accomplishment.

doing what’s easy on the to-do list first build momentum and i’m likely to do more, but less at a time.

]]>