A To-Do List Hack
I love the smell of possibility in the morning.
This time of year is interesting. I feel like there’s energy of both slowing down and speeding up.
You know, I usually I show up encouraging you to embrace the slow down, and I’ll let you in on a little secret …I do this because I am more likely to need a reminder to slow down.
I’m capable of being a really productive person in traditional terms and I am one of those people that is always vigilant for the way to make something slightly more efficient.
the shortest route from A to B
the best order of operations in a recipe (or process)
the proper way to organize an assembly line (or buffet line for that matter…)
Side note, this is a way that I differ from my partner, Dennis – at least as it relates to household matters.
The kids have started noticing we drive different routes to and from common destinations and they want to know why. “Because Daddy likes to take the scenic route,” I say. Now if you also care about efficiency, I am sure you will agree….that is a very generous way for me to respond, isn't it? I'm the best.
😂...I crack myself up! Okay…back to business…
Today I am not preaching the slow-down. I’m sharing a tip about getting things done that is simple and really effective. I came across it over a year ago and still need to remind myself of it – or pay closer attention to it—when I need a little productivity boost.
Start every item on your to do list with a verb.
That’s it. Seriously. Look at your list. I just did, and I found the following items scattered in the list:
BuJo Workshop
BPS applications for kiddos
Mom – UB – thoughts
Tax notes re: LLC
Now, I basically know what these mean…and you might even kind of know what they mean. But here is why I should re-write them:
Reduce mental effort. But they are not good tasks because they contain no verbs. And there is mental effort – kind of like Decision Fatigue – wasted in translating these items into the actions actually required.
Align with your intention. Adding something to your to do list creates intention to take an action. I think when we write them as actions (with verbs) we are ensuring that intention is aligned with action.
Make a little progress. If I put somebody’s name on the list because I need to ask them a question and I want to translate that into action, I can quickly decide how I am going to contact them. Email? Phone? Text? I have the ability to make a little progress, and eliminate some future decisions, by deciding the form of the action now. This will reduce friction for the task later.
So here are my new to do items:
Sign up for BuJo Workshop
Complete BPS applications for kiddos
Turn in BPS applications
Call Mom about UB idea to get her thoughts.
Find tax notes re: LLC set up
Love,
Marijke Ocean Joy