To-Do
Lists
“People
are remarkably bad at remembering long lists of goals. I learned this
at the professional level when trying to get my high-performance
coaching clients to stay on track; the longer their lists of to-dos
and goals, the more overwhelmed and off-track they got. Clarity comes
with simplicity.”
Brendon
Burchard
I
should have that last sentence tattooed on my hands, so all day long
I could be reminded that simplicity is the key to being clear-headed.
I don't know about you, but my “need to-do” list extends from
here to China. I go from room to room, place to place, reminding
myself of what needs to be done, until my head feels like it
will explode. It's quite non-productive. I could simply spin in place
and get as much done. It takes a lot of energy to be in angst all the
time.
We
humans have a need to feel important, don't we? We want to think of
ourselves as essential to something, or someone. And we are to a degree, but I can't think a single person who could not be replaced
if they were to disappear today. Not to suggest that they would not
be missed, or, rather, that we would not be missed. But essential,
no.
Being
productive requires a clear head. No day should have more than five
to-dos on the list, and one of those should be “rest, breathe.”
Most of us can remember five things whether we write them down or
not—that's the number in our zip code, fewer than telephone or
social security. It's doable. It's sane.
Today,
let's give ourselves a break. Keep the list short. Build in some down
time. Cherish the moments. This is your life. You don't want to miss
it.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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