To Do or Not To Do

August 2008

Do you ever watch those local television news broadcasts where some anchor does an “in-depth” report on something like home safety. You know the tripe they spew... “Be sure to keep electrical appliances away from the bathtub”, “keep all chemicals away from children”, “have emergency phone numbers on the fridge.” I don’t know about you, but I find this condescending crap annoying. They make me feel like it’s a miracle I can even tie my own shoes in the morning.

So why am I mentioning all that? Because my thoughts about “To Do” lists makes me feel like I’m delivering that same style of an overly simplistic and condescending message. But, the truth is, it works and it’s my life saver! Outlook, Entourage, iPhones, Blackberries, PDA’s, and digital scheduling tools are great, but nothing beats a pen and paper. I’ve tried everything over the years, and I always fall back on the good ‘ol pen and paper. Just because some technology exists, it doesn’t mean it’s better.

I suspect your day is like mine and pretty fluid. Priorities shift, new ideas come, bad ones get pushed aside, thoughts, contact information, and things to follow up on are constantly changing.
And, whether you intend to or not, your thoughts through the day often include personal matters like remembering to pay a bill, research bike insurance online, sign up for sexy singles in your area, etc.. You’re human! It’s okay! I have found that once I get the myriad of thoughts out of my head and on paper, my attention span is better. I can focus more on my job, and I’m not stressed juggling all these things. You’ve certainly heard of therapists who suggest their clients keep a handwritten journal or diary. That’s because people underestimate how exhausting and stressful they inadvertently make themselves feel by overwhelming themselves with thoughts, tasks, and problems. Once your ideas are committed to paper BY HAND, what seemed like 1000 ideas turns out to be just a dozen that were running in circles in your head. They become quantifiable, tangible, and manageable.

I keep all my thoughts and notes on one sheet, splitting work related tasks in one column and personal notes and thoughts in the other. Within the personal column, I have often have a group of specific tasks, then abstract weekend interests things like hobbies, looking for info on a new jacket, flight school, or anything that’s of some interest to follow up on. I think the world’s a pretty awesome place, so this part of my list is always growing and it keeps the mind and imagination alive.

Sometimes, if discretion is preferred for your personal notes, use abbreviations or use your own “code”. As an example, I’d prefer that nobody knew about that rash I picked up in Tijuana or the prescription ointment I need. So, in my case, I mask the obvious and use the latin word for that Tijuana virus: neverous-dothatus-againus.

I’m sure everyone is different, but the idea of putting your tasks on a digital calendar means out of sight, out of mind. I can’t believe I’m alone in this thinking. My pad is always in front of me. My eyes go over the list throughout the day, both consciously and subconsciously. This constant visual cue keeps it fresh and keeps me on track. And, making adjustments is faster than launching a computer program.

Trust me. I don’t care if you’re the frantic owner of the dealership or the employee contemplating college and careers. Your day is filled with work and personal thoughts. Don’t neglect them. I don’t care who you are. Commit your work tasks and personal interests to paper! You’ll feel efficient, organized, and stress-free. Dominate your thoughts. Don’t let them dominate you.