I have always been a list guy. I wake up in the morning and immediately look at not just my schedule for the day, but also a growing, nagging list of tasks categorized by work, personal, etc.
Whether digitally or on a bedside scratch pad, we have all become incredibly task-oriented. In fact, tools like digital reminders make it harder to miss those annoying, “I’ll do it later” moments.
Years ago, it occurred to me that the more prepared I was for the day via a solid daily task list, the more control I felt. Things come up throughout the day or in a given week that we cannot anticipate. But what if you could minimize those surprises by using the past to predict the future?
Moments that matter
List making helps make us better prepared for the important moments that matter. Naturally, we focus on the things we have to do versus looking forward at what we’ve done.
I often try to find connectively in my schedule by looking back a few weeks at key meetings or items to make sure I’ve properly followed up. You’d be surprised how quickly you can find things that have fallen through the cracks.
Thus, looking back to look ahead has become a daily ritual in its own right. Regularly looking back at the previous three to five weeks of my schedule helps make sure I’m staying on track, prepared and ready for whatever unexpected surprises a new week brings.
Key list-making suggestions:
■ Cut out a routine time — Make list creating into a routine, whether it is a first-thing in the morning task, near the end of the workday or before going to bed at night.
■ Prioritize — No one can get to everything on his or her list, so work through an order of importance, but be sure to note which tasks are time sensitive.
■ Create multiple lists — Everyone has personal and professional things to do, so be sure to create different lists to help keep the lines between one’s personal and professional life clear. Be sure to bounce between both to prevent becoming too one-dimensional and wind up neglecting one area.
■ Keep up with your list — Too often lists get put aside and things get lost in the shuffle. Regularly reviewing your list and reprioritizing is important to prevent feeling overwhelmed or letting tasks fall through the cracks.
■ Reward yourself — Life is full of tasks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reward yourself for getting things done and showing self-discipline. Be sure to give yourself a bonus for a job well done before regrouping for another run at your lists. ●
Ken Babby is the owner and CEO of Akron Baseball LLC.
