Organizing Your Day

The Tasmanian Devil Goes to MIT

Have you ever had one of those days (and who hasn't?!?) when you feel like you're moving from task to task, running around like the Tasmanian Devil trying to get everything completed, and at the end of the day feel completely unproductive?

There are two, highly related problems with this.

First, too many tasks have been scheduled for the time available in one day. 

Second, at the end of the day, you feel unsuccessful.  You are telling yourself things like, "I wasn't very successful today", "I should have been more focused", "I should have tried harder", "I'm never going to get everything done" or even, "I'm never going to be a success".

But doing this, you have already set yourself up for not being successful again tomorrow.

The Solution:

GO TO MIT

That's not the Massachusetts Institute of Technology!!

It's the "Most Important Thing"

Here's how it works:

At the end of each day, create a short list of the most important things you need to accomplish the next day.  You can have a second, longer term to-do list but that consists of the low- and medium- priority tasks, even high-priority but not as time critical.  Your MIT list is a short list of the most critical things you need to complete the next day.

As you complete the list, have a system for showing the items are complete.  A check mark or crossing it out works fine.  My favorite is the yellow and orange highlighter system...yellow means started but in progress.  Orange means DONE!!  At quick glance, I know which items need attention and which are completed.

Critical components of this system:

1)  Make your list at the end of the day, preparing for tomorrow.  This way, when you get to work in the morning, you can get started right away and don't have to spend time figuring out what you need to do.

2)  Keep your list limited to only a few of the most important things.  The goal is to be able to complete your list everyday and ending your day with a feeling of success and accomplishment. 

3)  CELEBRATE your success!!!  Share it with a friend or spouse;  have a cup of your favorite tea;  whatever works for you but celebrate your success!!

Give it a try and see how often you not only get your MIT list completed, but move on to the longer term list as well, multiplying your feeling of success!!

We'd love to hear how this works for you!!!!

E-mail us at lisaandsteve@yourfirestarters.com and let us hear about your success!!!