By: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Sr. Associate Editor, ICN Group
(In the past article, we knew about importance of prioritisation. In the next 3 articles from today, we will know about how to prepare a To-Do List)
Preparing a To-Do List
NOIDA: Everybody feels overwhelmed by the amount of work, he has to do; that too in the era of fast approaching deadlines. In the scenario, you are bound to sometimes forget to do something important.
If prioritising is the key to effective time management, preparing a WRITTEN To-Do list is the first step of prioritising. We must accept the fact that we cannot rely solely on our memory. Try spending 5 minutes each day on planning your activities by making a To-Do list and prioritising the works to be done in order of their importance and urgency.
Every minute spent in planning will increase your productivity and you will save lot of time while executing your plans, so that you may get more & more time for the things you want to do, as per your own choices.
– Sanjay Kumar Agarwal
Advantages of having To-Do lists
- Spending 5-10 minutes each day to prepare/ update your To-Do list and prioritise the same may save you about one hour each day.
- Written To-Do list is more reliable than memory.
- It facilitates prioritisation.
- This boosts your confidence, as you have an eye upon each and every task and nothing is going to miss your attention, however trivial it may be.
- When you see the ticked off marks at the end of the day, you get satisfaction and your brain releases much needed endorphins due to the sense of accomplishment.
- It also helps you realise that you have not done much during any particular day, if you have wasted your time that day.
- You can plan clubbing two works of the same area for doing at once, saving your time.
- You can carry forward the left-over items to next day’s To-Do list.
- It you have a To-Do list, you are better focussed and build an image in the eyes of your boss and colleagues that you are an organised person, having constant eye on everything you have to do and you are treated as a reliable person, to whom any important work may be entrusted.
- Once your subordinates see the benefits, they will also start making To-Do lists improving overall productivity of the organisation.
How to prepare and use To-Do lists
If you are preparing a To-Do list for the first time, list out all the things you have to do over a period of time and prioritise them according to ABCD technique of prioritisation. You can devise your own method of prioritisation whichever suits your mindset of monitoring your works. Some time management gurus say that ABCD prioritisation should be in order of importance; some say that ABCE prioritisation should be done in order of simply what should be done first and then next and then next, irrespective of importance. I would suggest that use trial & error method. First and foremost thing is to maintain a WRITTEN To-Do list and prioritising it and act according to this prioritisation.
(In the next article, I will discuss the steps and format of preparing To-Do List and how to assign priority to the tasks at hand. Believe me, you will learn something new apart from the old school of thought of according priority according to importance & urgency. I believe that you are enjoying the journey towards the future of your dreams with me. If yes, please stay tuned. Happy G.O.P.T.A.)
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Creator & copyright holder of the concept G.O.P.T.A.© is an Author, Certified NLP Lifestyle Trainer, Strategic Interventionist, Corporate Trainer & Motivational Speaker ( http://bit.ly/Signature-Workshops-Sanjay-Kumar-Agarwal ) and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Excellence (Management) by prestigious Young Scientist University, California, USA. He is Founder of ‘Read, Learn & Earn Movement’ and is popularly known among his fans & followers across the globe as ‘Time and Goal Guru’.
