5 Tips for Making an Effective Task List

By James Adams

Productivity is difficult to maintain, especially if you are trying to do it cold. The best way to get productive and keep it that way? You can’t beat a good task list; if done correctly, it will keep you motivated through any and every project or endeavour. If you want to create the perfect to-do list and really stick to it, here’s how:

1. Draw up a task list that you are committed to – A good task list doesn’t have a good deal of randoms; it is not likely that you will finish everything if your list is too long and drawn out. You have to prioritise, right from the beginning. Your task list should consist of things that are important and time sensitive. One of the things that challenges people the most is getting off task or using their time unwisely. This list isn’t for projects that you are thinking about tackling in the future. If you truly want to stay committed and cross things off the list, keep them in the present. Your motivation will only increase as you make your way down the list.

2. Be specific and stay away from multi-tasking – It may seem like you could double your output, but statistically multi-tasking inhibits true progress. Once you begin a task, follow through with it. Be as effective as you can and strive for a good deal of production. Write down exactly what you need to do; don’t be shy when stacking your list. If something is vague, it won’t get done correctly and you will not feel the need to go back and finish. Begin with realistic goals and make them as clear as possible. Do not stray from one until it is finished!

3. Plan out your day within the task list; account for everything – Some projects will take more time than others, but do yourself a favour and put a time limit on it. If you give yourself all day to complete one project, the chances are good that you will not get too far down the list. Part of productivity is planning everything out to the minute, the hour. Give yourself a good amount of time to finish each task, but don’t dawdle. If you allow your productivity level and motivation to decrease it will be much more difficult to get it back up again. Take into consideration errands that need to be run, chores around the house and walking the family dogs.

4. Avoid procrastination – It is important to remember that procrastination is not your friend and it is definitely not a friend to your effective task list. If you put something off until tomorrow, you are just expanding another task list. If you have the time and resources to get something down today, do it. Procrastinating gets easier and easier as it is continuously applied. Do not get stuck in a routine of pushing things off until tomorrow. It is exactly this way of thinking that is detrimental to any productivity or motivation to be had when using a task list.

5. Reward yourself for good work – Motivation is need is great quantities to continue marking tasks off of your list throughout the day. While crossing the last task off after it is completed is a great feeling, that feeling may wear off after awhile, leaving you lacking the proper motivation to stay productive. If this happens, you are more likely to abandon your task lists in the future. Give yourself a weekly goal: if you maintain at least 90 percent productivity for the week, take yourself out for dinner or a dessert. Treat yourself if you make a habit of becoming more consistent.

Agreed, it can be frustrating to work off a list day in and day out. However, there are plenty of ways to make it challenging and exciting. If you stay on task, your productivity level is sure to increase; it is just a matter of finding the appropriate motivation to keep you steady. If you prioritise, set reasonable goals and avoid distractions that put you off task, you will be on your way to effectively using a task list in no time at all!

Author Information

James Adams is a blogger and editor at Cartridge Save, an online shop based in the UK where shoppers can shop for a range of printer cartridges and PhotoSmart ink cartridges in the United Kingdom.

Top 7 Timesaving Tips For Entrepreneurs

By James Adams

Successful entrepreneurs are busy. That is just a fact. For most of us success is forged with hard work and long hours that are very full of activity. Finding ways to make the most of each moment and save time where we can is an essential part of maximizing our efforts each and every work day. As hard as you’re working, it is likely that taking the time to evaluate your modus operandi will reveal some time drains that you can eliminate, thus saving valuable minutes or hours. The result will be more efficient use of the clock, which might lead to a bit more free time. Fat chance, huh? You never know. But let’s not waste any time getting to the top 7 timesaving tips for entrepreneurs.

1. Know your goals and your game plan: If you don’t know where you’re going, then any path will do. But if your destination, your goals are defined, you will have clear direction about how to spend your time. You’ll find it much easier to rule out certain actions, freeing valuable time for those things in your game plan which must be done. If you haven’t written down your goals, do so today. It will sharpen your focus tomorrow and every day beyond.

2. Schedule everything: Time has a way of leaking. A short break to check email turns into 30 minutes away from important tasks. Ditto for phone chats, sports news, a look at this weekend’s weather, etc. Schedule a short discretionary session online a few times a day and stick to it. You’ll pocket a surprising amount of time to spend in better ways.

3. Learn the power of saying no: This flows from our first point. When you have clear goals and a plan for getting there it is easy to see which work related “opportunities” simply don’t fit those goals. This makes it so much easier to rule out a half day seminar that sounds great but isn’t consistent with your current direction, for example. Four hours saved is precious!

4. Focus on the top of your priority list: The old saying is, “make the main thing the main thing.” That never hurts. While an entrepreneur must wear at least a few hats, know which one is most important and which are secondary. Wear that primary hat 80% of the time, whether it is the product development hat, the network building hat or the sales hat.

5. Outsource wherever possible: In the early days entrepreneurs may not have the money to outsource anything! When you grow beyond that phase determine what is worth paying someone else to do, especially if it saves time that can be spent in greater productivity. Determine the monetary value of your time and you’ll have a guide for deciding where outsourcing will save you money. If you have employees then outsourcing becomes delegating.

6. Document your time saving practices and make them part of your routine: It might have been Zig Ziglar who first said, “Work every day like it’s the day before vacation.” When a holiday is just a few days off we go into productivity overdrive. If we can harness that attitude it will energize us. Even if we can’t function at that level indefinitely, it will help us get a great deal of work done in short bursts. With dedication those bursts will become longer, more sustainable. That attitude also gives us razor sharp focus in determining our tasks for the day.

7. Schedule time off to refuel and achieve balance: The counterpart to the previous principle is that maintaining high productivity requires down time to regroup and restore our energy. Schedule “axe sharpening” as Stephen Covey would say. You will return to work swinging a sharper axe with more energy. A sharper focus, a keener attitude and a renewed vision will translate knowing what things you need to do and getting more of them done. You won’t feel guilty about time away if you know it will improve your performance when you are back in work mode.

Entrepreneurs who succeed point to their time saving/time usage skills as a major contributor to achieving their goals. Start today by recapturing your vision and then using that to sharpen your goals and your game plan. You’ll be refreshed and energized. You will enjoy your work more. You will be doing the right things for the right reasons and the next rung of your success will be closer than ever.

Author Information

James Adams works at an online ink supplies store where he covers the latest tech releases, reviewing products such as the T0715 and posting on his favoured topics of art and design on their blog.