Having a Task List Does Not Make You Productive
What?
At least someone finally said it!
The thing is, the heart of this statement reflects the classic, busy vs. productive debate.
I would define each term simply:
busy: doing things
productive: doing the right things
Some days, I will work and work and work and (you get the picture) at the end of the day…(drumroll)…the tasks I completed were so minuscule that it didn’t even matter. That feeling, is worse than the i-have-been-on-twitter-all-day feeling. Because instead of getting nothing done (and enjoying it), the wrong things got done and there is still a list of right things waiting for me.
Here is something that has helped me. When I approach a task, I ask myself the same question each and every time.
Will it matter if this doesn’t get done today?
If the answer is yes (as in, the world will fall apart if I don’t do this) then I do it.
If the answer is no, then I don’t do it.
Look at your to-do list and calendar, are you currently scheduling yourself to be busy or productive?
Do you have any tips for avoiding busyness and being productive?
I think it’s important to separate the urgent from the important. The difference? The urgent calls on you, a phone, email, blog responding:0), the important you have to call on it. Knowing the 1 thing that if you do nothing else that day you found the main thing, and kept the main thing, the main thing.
It’s the ability to zoom out, determine what matters, and treat other things as the enemy of great!
Pastor Chris,
That is so true-and I find that many times, the urgent is easier to tackle and seems more rewarding. But of course, in the long run, just doing the urgent things disallows for intentionality and strategy.
When I am productive, I feel accomplished. When I get caught up in busyness, I tend to feel frustrated.
I have learned to keep my to-do list in pencil, knowing that flexibility is important!
Bernadine,
I have read a lot on productivity and have never heard the pencil trick.
I do something similar with my digital task list, but I am sure that will help those that perhaps carry a Moleskine instead of a PDA.
I do the “pencil trick” thing too, Blane. But for me, I write EVERYTHING on a Day Planner. I know,I know, paper—what is that? LOL! My husband does the Blackberry thing, everything on a blackberry, I just write stuff down. When I start my day, I have my list–IN PENCIL–GASP—, can you tell I’m giving you the business–and I ask God, “Ok, what do I need to do first.” I ask Him to order my steps. Then Bam–I get busy. I notice EVERYTIME I do not ask Him to do this, my day doesn’t go smooth and I end up at the end of the day frustrated because I didn’t get what I wanted done
Another pencil user, is this a homeschool thing?
(laugh, laugh).
So, why don’t you go the Blackberry route?
And why don’t you think that your husband doesn’t use pencil and paper?
AHHHHHHHH the blessed Blackberry. I have to tell on myself–I can barely figure out how to use the gadgets on my cell phone. That should tell you how tech-savy I am. My husband uses his blackberry for just about everything, even has an alarm to remind him its trash day. As for his penmanship–I think between his laptop and Blackberry, he has actually lost the art of writing–LOL–j/j!
I have found at college that it is very easy to feel “productive” but not get anything “productive” done. With all of the assignments, work schedules, ministry schedules, and relationship building that goes on on a daily basis it is very easy to get off task. Here in the past few months I have found that a dry erase board with a “to-do list” written on it can go a pretty long way with actually staying productive. I really liked the idea of questioning if it actually matters if it got done that day, I have a feeling thats really going to help me out now!
I heart white boards!
They make this paint, that when you put it on a wall, the whole way is a dry erase board!
I want to do it in my office one day…
Have you learned your productivity tips on your own or do they teach that at your school?
(I learned mine on my own, as a means of surviving the busy times but still feeling like I had control)
I pretty much learned it on my own! I kept trying things, and it seemed like that one worked the best, so I went for it!
Lifehacker.com really ignited my passion!
I hope this blog helps others with practical advice.
I just wrote a post about apps that I couldn’t live without, check it out and tell me if you have used any of them before…
I have a dry eraser board with a huge calendar hanging on one of my doors. Every month I fill it out, all dates, events, etc. This way, when I walk in the room, its right smack there in my face ,telling me what I have going on. I do several things to keep me on task.
I agree that keeping the tasks in the forefront of my mind helps me stay focused!
Thanks for joining the conversation, bookmark the blog-I would love to hear your thoughts on the more recent posts too.
I write most of my To-Do Lists in ……… drumroll……… Pencil!!!! Most of all, I loved my white board calendars (which I don’t have anymore because I can’t find ones I like – beauty as well as function is important!) – that said – keeping up with home, school, church and other stuff can sometimes drive you crazy! So, I really try to prioritize – what do I need to do so the world doesn’t come crashing down on me – then I tackle the other stuff.