Setting Priorities - The Importance of a To-Do LIst
I am in the process of transferring over from working graveyard shift to day shift. So, as I sit here downing my second cup of extremely strong java and contemplating the challenges coming up in the week I know it is time to set my priorities for the upcoming few months. Due to the nature of working graveyard shift, I often fall a bit behind on my priorities and spend the months on day shift reorganizing and getting ahead of my responsibilities. The key tool for me to assess my progress and ensure I stay on task is the use of a simple to-do list.
Priorities on Paper
It may seem a bit outdated and simplistic, but the use of a tangible to-do list is essential for my goal achieving style. I am a very visual and tactile learner, so it stands to reason that I want a hard copy piece of paper, or journal, to scratch, scribble, and sketch on. The need to "feel" the priority list and experience the satisfaction of seeing an item crossed through are very important to me and to my perception of success. You know what they say, "simple minds, simple pleasures"!
My goal setting style is very similar to this as well. It has always been my belief that if it isn't written down, it didn't happen. I usually start with the most pressing items and then list them in a descending order of importance. Each day I keep my journal near me and strive to cross through as many items as possible. Each day I re-write the list eliminating items I have completed and adding items that may have come up during the course of the previous day. This system works for me. I have tried fancy electronic ways to stay on top of my priorities, but I always end up coming back to the tried and true method a putting pen to paper.
What methods do you use to stay ahead of the game? Do you use a journal, web-based priority program, or something completely different? Let me know in the comments!
You may also like my recent article on the night people I'm going to miss while on day shift!
Image Source Pixabay.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://papacrusher.vornix.blog/2018/09/04/setting-priorities-the-importance-of-a-to-do-list/
All photos and videos are my own creation unless otherwise noted.
Join us @steemitbloggers
Animation By @zord189
All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien
Unfortunately, I've tended to find that when I keep physical notes they get lost. Notebooks get misplaced, sticky notes fall off or get ignored, all that stuff. Since I'm a gamer one of my friends recommended I try Habitica, and that's been my life-changer for to-do lists.
One of the best features I think is the ability to list stuff as a daily or one time to-do, and when you check it off you earn exp to level up your character and gold to spend on things on the site that are mostly just cosmetic for your avatar if that's your thing. There's groups you can join to do quests, guilds around all kinds of topics that do challenges, and a much more social side if that's something people want to do.
I also have a channel in the discord server my roommate and I share (mostly for exchanging silly photos we find online and the like) to write down things as I do them. Really good for keeping track of things like what day I did laundry last or the dishes or something else XD
Now that sounds like an extremely interesting solution for a to-do list! What a cool concept to have a incentivized game for completing real world tasks. Too cool! Thanks for sharing!
That was kind of my first thoughts too. And they have a mobile app, so I can take it with me when I'm out and about since I never forget my phone XD
I keep meaning to try habitica, but get overwhelmed with listing all my tasks and never actually get off the ground with it...but it sounds like a really great app and I'm glad it works for you!
I keep it all in my head with just the odd note.
My head is too full of useless junk to be effective with your technique..lol
Sounds like you have a very good approach going here. I'm more a focus on one goal at a time person. I do however make lists if I have a lot of tasks to get through. This is more in my work environment though. It is very visually pleasing scratching them out and watching the list get gradually shorter. Good luck with the change in shifts.
That's a unique approach. I am all about using what works for you!
thanks for the information,I really agree with the point 'priority of Paper'
As a student,I usually used sticky note for daily lives task and for some important event I will tick on the calendar.I prefer using paper rather than app for 'to do list' as it is more satisfied when we tick 'right' after done the task :)
Posted using Partiko Android
I agree 100% there is nothing better than the feeling of ticking off an important task. I am a big fan of sticky notes as well, they are all over my monitor and keyboard...lol. Thanks for coming by and commenting.
I personally like post it notes and the flexibility of reordering priorities by simply moving them around :D
Closest digital form of this I've seen is Trello, which is pretty nice indeed. But post it's are just nice to pick up and stick, then stack when your have done them.
We use trello at work and I like it for business, but not personal.
Hi @papacrusher!
Your post was upvoted by @steem-ua, new Steem dApp, using UserAuthority for algorithmic post curation!
Your UA account score is currently 2.985 which ranks you at #10180 across all Steem accounts.
Your rank has dropped 62 places in the last three days (old rank 10118).
In our last Algorithmic Curation Round, consisting of 178 contributions, your post is ranked at #119.
Evaluation of your UA score:
Feel free to join our @steem-ua Discord server
Awesome post! I agree that a to-do list is important and I have also tried probably every app for it and while I also believe that having it hand written is the best, I’m also far to scatterbrained to keep that list in one place (I lost my diary with all my to-dos once and it sent me into a frantic mess - I couldn’t remember half the things on there and messed up a couple important things as a result -who knew I relied on that list so heavily: I guess it’s the only way to really relax when you are on down time with your family) anyway, now I do both.. I use a written list for the most important tasks (MITs) for that day as well as Wunderlist which I can access from anywhere with my login details (like email almost).. Wunderlist also has the ability to group tasks into folders as well as add sub-tasks to a task that perhaps needs interval work done based on feedback from other people etc.. it is sometimes tiring to be drowned in the ever present to do list! Another great app is the 5-minute journal.. it includes gratitude, 3 MITs, and affirmation/intention for the day - and then a bit of revision in the evening:) (oops super long comment but I enjoyed this post!)
Thanks for the comment and feedback. I may need to reconsider some of the apps out there for task management!
I too am a person who needs a tangible list in order to keep ahead of things that need to be done. I have tried web-based programs but they just aren't the same. The graveyard shift was the bane of my existence. I am a lark not a night owl so I did not do well on nights.
I did much better on nights when I was a much younger man..lol The older I get the harder they get.
I use a bullet journal, and usually write out what to do for my week so I don't feel terrible if I don't get to something that day. But I also have a couple whiteboards that I write repeated daily tasks and also what I want to get done that month. I feel like out of sight/out of mind is a big thing for me, so while I like physically writing it, I also have to physically see it. And when I'm in a pinch, a post-it note works just fine :) So satisfying crossing things off.
I LOVE the act of crossing things off. It is definitely a motivational tool for me.
We are SO proud to have you as a member of our
FANTABULOUS @steemitbloggers family!
uvoted and resteemed!
❤ MWAH!!! ❤
interested in joining the Steemit Bloggers Community?