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But the reason tasks aren't done frequently usually has nothing to do with how the to-do list is organised, and I'm not sure why the app creators from the beginning of the article were surprised about their checklist not being more effective than any other method. It still doesn't mean it was useless.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Precisely this. Todo lists are a great way to go through processes, but a terrible way to plan a day's or month's activity.
What is a better way you've found?
Edit:
Here’s one implementation by Nir Eyal, author of “Hooked” and Indistractable”:
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Precisely this. Todo lists are a great way to go through processes, but a terrible way to plan a day's or month's activity.
What is a better way you've found?
Speak politely, two morning chores, answer all messages from my group, workout, read, tinker with something, no coffee (I'm quitting), no drinks (I'm cutting down), meditate, go outside, update the finances, write in my journal.
Each of those is about a 5 minute task or a daily reminder. Read and Tinker often lead to hours-long focus sessions. The key is to show up every day and remove barriers to getting started.
If you want to call that a todo list, that's ok, but I call it a process-oriented checklist because of the way I use it.
I used to be better about keeping a monthly checklist too, but pandemic has removed most the list.
Every day at work, I show up and do a minimum of 4 straight hours of concentrated and focused work.
I often get told things like: "I'm killing it", "I'm a high producer", etc.
To me, I feel like I'm cheating the system, and I work too little.
What do other people do?
I swear by The Checklist Manifesto[0] However, it's worth noting that just because you didn't do that one thing on your list, it doesn't mean you're a failure in life. A checklist is just a rough guide. You can always delegate or delay the more trickier tasks too. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Checklist_Manifesto
Adam Savage uses checklists as a motivational tool. Something satisfying about marking things as done. On paper, esp. I could only find this -- with a link to another wired article: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20263850
The reality is, many tasks, people simply don't want to do!
Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is a better way you've found?
I mean, I do have a backlog list, and it is prioritized, but my day-to-day follows a process not a todo list. I keep a daily checklist of priority things to fit in: Speak politely, two morning chores, answer all messages from my group, workout, read, tinker with something, no coffee (I'm quitting), no drinks (I'm cutting down), meditate, go outside, update the finances, write in my journal. Each of those is about a 5…
https://jamesclear.com/stop-procrastinating-seinfeld-strateg...
I'm always curious how others "work." I use the Pomodoro technique myself, where I do a minimum of 8 sessions per workday. I try to do 10, but usually, I'm somewhere in between. I do not count meetings. Every day at work, I show up and do a minimum of 4 straight hours of concentrated and focused work. I often get told things like: "I'm killing it", "I'm a high producer", etc. To me, I feel like I'm cheating the syste…
Is the "real" world supposed to be different than this experience?
I'm always curious how others "work." I use the Pomodoro technique myself, where I do a minimum of 8 sessions per workday. I try to do 10, but usually, I'm somewhere in between. I do not count meetings. Every day at work, I show up and do a minimum of 4 straight hours of concentrated and focused work. I often get told things like: "I'm killing it", "I'm a high producer", etc. To me, I feel like I'm cheating the syste…
So no, you're not cheating the system, you are probably running at optimum efficiency. The efficiency of the average employee in terms of productive hours per day spent in chair is ridiculously low.
As a side note: I'm very much wondering whether I should insist on 40 hour work weeks when I get to the point of hiring people. I know there is a movement going for the 4-day workweek, but I personally see more in a 6 hour work day.
I'm always curious how others "work." I use the Pomodoro technique myself, where I do a minimum of 8 sessions per workday. I try to do 10, but usually, I'm somewhere in between. I do not count meetings. Every day at work, I show up and do a minimum of 4 straight hours of concentrated and focused work. I often get told things like: "I'm killing it", "I'm a high producer", etc. To me, I feel like I'm cheating the syste…
I'm always curious how others "work." I use the Pomodoro technique myself, where I do a minimum of 8 sessions per workday. I try to do 10, but usually, I'm somewhere in between. I do not count meetings. Every day at work, I show up and do a minimum of 4 straight hours of concentrated and focused work. I often get told things like: "I'm killing it", "I'm a high producer", etc. To me, I feel like I'm cheating the syste…
I’ve been doing the exact same thing for about a year now. My quality of work is up, and so is my salary. I have more time for family and hobbies.
Whenever I’m stuck on a problem and my four hours are up, I right down my thoughts and the next morning I find the solution quickly.
Either you and I are special, hyperproductive but easily exhausted workers, or everyone else is just pretending to work twice as long.