Troubleshoot Your Task List

How to Make the RIGHT Decision Every Time

Got a task list a mile long? Completed your tasks yesterday only to add 20 more to your list for tomorrow? Unsure which ones to focus on today or this week?

It’s no secret that we all have more to do than we have time for. We are inundated with all kinds of projects that need attending to. And as our responsibilities grow, so do our obligations to get things done.

But what are you to do when EVERYTHING on your task list seems equally urgent or important? How do you choose between one task and another? Do I finish my notes or do I send off this email to my boss? Should I plan that clinic screening event or spend time with my children? Will I chip away at those neglected home fix-its or plan our next family trip?

Because of these daily and weekly quandaries, it is essential to know which tasks you should focus on. Just marking tasks off your list can leave you feeling exhausted and as though you STILL got nothing done. But, if you know how to focus on the RIGHT things, it will not only help you do less but also feel accomplished and satisfied that you finished enough for that day and week.

I’ve come up with 3 ways to help you troubleshoot your task list to do less and achieve more:

1. Choose 3 Tasks

   Yes. That’s right. Pick 3 from your long list and commit to completing those 3 tasks above all others. This technique is developed from The Pareto Principle – 20% of the work accounts for 80% of the results. Most people are really only able to attend to about 15 tasks in a given day (or rather on a REALLY GOOD day). So by focusing on the 20% (3 tasks), you can accomplish most of what is actually important. After completing your big 3 tasks, you’ll then have the mental and physical margin to complete other tasks without the stress and confusion of decision-fatigue.

2. Consider Your Goals

   If you’ve been following me long enough, you know how important it is to have annual and quarterly goals that you are pursuing. When you stare down your task list and wonder which ones to choose, consider tasks that are tied to your bigger goals. This will help you make incremental progress AND reduce procrastination. In addition, you’ll stay connected to your goals throughout the busyness of life and reduce the chance of you ignoring or giving up on your goals.

3. Apply a Priority Matrix

   A priority matrix is a way to mentally plot your tasks on a scale of importance and urgency. The more important AND urgent a task is for that day or week, the more likely it should be added to your big 3 tasks. As you look through your tasks one by one, you can quickly ask yourself, “Is this task important AND urgent to me?” If the answer is “yes”, then add it to your big 3 tasks. Some tasks are important but not urgent and can be scheduled for another day. Other tasks are urgent but not important so you should recruit someone’s help to delegate that task. But tasks that are neither important NOR urgent need to be DELETED entirely.

In the end, it’s your decision which tasks you want to focus on. But if you do not start troubleshooting your task list, your tasks will overwhelm you and confuse you.

Once you focus on getting the RIGHT things done, you’ll not only gain more time back but you’ll also achieve more without compromising your personal priorities and self-care.

If you want help with how to choose the right tasks on a daily basis, sign up today for my next workshop!