Time Management Weblog on AcePlanner

We usually faced with so many needs to be done. This relates to job, social activities, as well as personal life. Sometimes we do not know what to do and sometimes we have a headache of huge amount of work required to work on. These cases are forcing us to use a to-do list.

The goal of a to-do list

To get most of to-do lists let’s think about goals of using it. We all know what we can not do something effectively while our mind is thinking about anything else. Remember situation then you worry about an upcoming event or about speaking on meeting. This rarely allows completing other tasks and usually significantly increases time spending.

We need a tool to help us avoiding worry about anything except the current task and to keep concentration on one task a time. Is writing tasks into a to-do list help us forgetting about these items until we have to do something about them? If yes, that is our desired goal of using to-do list.

To conclude the basic idea of a to-do list I have to say: let to do list worry about upcoming tasks, release your mind to complete the current one.

Types of to-do lists

To-do lists are widely used. It is so natural what many people not require any special training or manual. However some education can help. Everyone is unique and approaches of using to-do list are different. Let’s highlight three commonly used to-do list types:

1. Plain or sequential to-do list

Everyone at least once used this kind of to-do list. It looks like a numbered list of tasks to be done. Such to-do list user works on these tasks starting with most important first. Every completed task marked appropriately.

2. One day to-do list

This type of to-do list is used for collecting most important and time sensitive tasks. This includes meetings, phone calls and events. These tasks are usually written in sticky notes and placed on a visible place. In addition to task title it contains scheduled time.

3. To-do list with scheduling

This one list is most effective and can benefit user with an additional info, such as time spending reports, data for timesheets, planned vs. spent comparison tables. This to-do list is only available in electronic form, as software like AcePlanner.

Effective to-do list is not just a plain of things to be done. It is an instrument for collecting tasks and selecting most important to work on.

We will come back next week and cover in details how-to, pros and cons of each to-do list.

We frequently hear term balanced life. But how is it looks like? How to understand where is a balance and where is a shortest way to it?

There is no simple answer what fits all, because we are all unique. But here is a set of leading questions what can help you understand a style to keep up balancing.

1. Write down tasks what you most likely do in the next one or two days. Set importance of each task using ABC or Covey’s scheme, where A - tasks that must be done, and soon; B - important tasks as A, but can wait; C - tasks what require immediate attention, but can be skipped without a risk; and D - nice to have tasks.
2. Are the A, B, C and D priorities produce the order what you most likely do them? If not, where is a trick?
3. Are there tasks essential for your personal and professional goals and career?
4. Do you have tasks to learn something new?
5. Is there a time for breakfast, fitness and relaxation? Do you usually have regular breakfast and meals?
6. What percentage of tasks written above will provide a value for your company, colleagues or for your boss?
7. Do you have a time for D-tasks, what you would really like to get done?
8. Imagine, if tomorrow is not a workday. How many A, B, C and D tasks, what you written above, can be applied for holiday?
9. Create a new list of personal tasks for these holidays. How many of them would include family, friends and hobby?
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Here is a place for more questions. Keep writing in this list more tests, suitable personally for you. Do it regularly, for example, one question every Monday. This list is like a book with a new content every time you read. Continue asking yourself these questions and find balance and happiness.

Please don’t forget to leave a comment.