Monday, April 05, 2010

Simplifying Daily Life

I know plenty of folks that never get anything done. It is never about NOT having something to do or accomplish, it is about having so much to do that they simply freeze in place and are basically overwhelmed by having so much to do.

Let's just call it the "Writer's Block of Life." I think that we are all guilty of allowing things to pile up and then we simply screech to a halt when time rolls around where there is a lull in day-to-day life and we are faced with the time to tackle those tasks.

Yes, I do this all the damned time, too.

Here's how I solve this malady/rotting pus-filled tumor in my life, when I finally get around to it.

1. I make a list. Yes, I know all the things that I need to do, but keeping things in my head is an ineffective way to actually address those problems. IT. JUST. IS.

2. I refine my list into a priority list. Most important stuff goes at the top. The least important is the thing at the bottom.

3. I tackle ONE THING AT A TIME. The most important comes first.

4. If I reach a point where I need more information or a particular object to complete that task, I make the request to the person that has the information or in the case of an object or tool, I start another list of things that I need to pick up while I am out.

5. I move on to the next item and so on until I finish my list.

This is the way that I finish things. It works for me every single time, too.

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8 comments:

Basil said...

That's actually good, useful advice.

Who are you and what have you done with Paul?

Andy said...

What Basil said...

Crap! I'm taking out the Big Chief tablet as I speak.

Paul Mitchell said...

The bizarre thing is that this situation keeps cropping up a bunch lately. No less than FIVE people I deal with on a daily basis have asked me how I stay so organized.

And one of the things on the "Pick Up List" is now a Big Chief tablet, I have not seen one of those since kindergarten and now I want one. Thanks a damn lot, Andy. I am going to get a fat pencil, too.

Andy said...

Ur welkum!

Skunkfeathers said...

What the first two commenters said...

Joubert said...

Well, it's been obvious to me all along that you are organized.

I started using lists about 30 years ago when I got my first management job that overlapped into my life. And they're even more important if you're self-employed.

Steve Berven said...

Maybe I oughta give it a try...might find time to blog!

Skunkfeathers said...

What the first two commenters said...