What is the ONE THING you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary? In the number one Wall Street Journal bestseller, Gary Keller has identified that behind every successful person is their "one thing." No matter how success is measured, personal or professional, only the ability to dismiss distractions and concentrate on your "one thing" stands between you and your goals. The "one thing" is about getting extraordinary results in every situation.
In his book, The ONE Thing, Gary Keller argues that we put too many things on our To-Do List. First there were miniature memo pads and pencils, now we have note-taking apps that go with us everywhere on our smartphones. Making lists of what needs to get done around the house and at work can help us remember all the to-dos, but it can also keep us from focusing on the things that really matter most.
The problem with lists is they often give everything equal importance. They also provide a false sense of productivity because we think that the more we get checked off, the more we are getting done. Unfortunately, that is not always true. To have a happier journey, we have got to learn how to ditch the master lists and give the most important things more of our attention.
Understanding Not Everything Has to Get Done Right Now
When you take the approach that everything needs to get checked off the to-do list ASAP, you are setting yourself up for failure. Inevitably, as soon as one thing gets checked off, another will take its place. The result is a feeling that your wheels are always turning, but you are not getting anywhere.
That is because oftentimes there is little discretion for what gets put on the list. Once an item is there, we feel obligated to get it done, even if it is not a necessity. Going at it in this fashion, our list prioritizes things for us instead of the other way around. Everything becomes just as important as every other item on the list, and it does not matter which one gets taken care of first.
The most productive leaders realize that focusing on the essentials is what is really important. Everything else can wait.
Prioritizing Tasks for a More Productive To-Do List
In The ONE Thing, Gary Keller points out that, “Left in its raw state, as a simple inventory, a to-do list can easily lead you astray.” Taking the time to decide what is most important can instantly transform that time-sucking inventory into a blueprint for making each day more productive.
Once you accept that not everything needs to get done on the to-do list and that not all items are equal, you can begin to prioritize what needs to get done and take back a bit of your sanity. When you are more focused, happier and productive, your world will inherently run smoother as a result. At the end of the day, a content feeling is the true measure of success, not checked off to-dos.
Tasks That Save Time
Items that will make other tasks easier or eliminate them altogether should take priority. Often these items are the more difficult ones that we put off, but in the end they are the to-dos that are really worth doing.
Focus on the items that provide the most return. As Pareto’s 80/20 Principle shows, most of the time a small percentage of tasks produce the majority of the results. It is a model that proves not all tasks are equal.
Get Rid of the Non-Essentials
Get ready to remove a number of things from your list all at once. Ask yourself, “Is this something I should do or that I could do?” Now, set all the “could dos” aside. Anytime you consider adding something to your list, ask yourself the question again. And do not be afraid to tell people no if what they need is not a priority or if you do not have space on your list for a non-essential.
When you apply the techniques above, your to-do list will become a success list that is focused on getting the most done – not getting more things done. At the end of the day, all it takes is putting your energy behind "ONE Thing" to set off a domino effect where one accomplishment leads to the next.
Original Source: http://www.the1thing.com/blog/applying-the-one-thing/why-checking-things-off-your-list-is-making-you-less-productive-at-home/
