My to-do list is my Bible. I have yearly, weekly and daily lists of things to do. The yearly list is more like a list of goals. That is broken down into weekly and daily lists which I follow strictly. I never just let something "drop off" a list; it's either done (and a straight line drawn through it) or it's postponed (a wavy line drawn through it). A canceled appointment is indicated by a wavy line drawn through it and the word canceled scribbled over that. When a to-do item is canceled it is immediately placed on my calendar for another time.
Knowing what has to be done each day and through the next few weeks is a very empowering thing. It allows me to manage my time and anticipate when I need to work quickly and when I can relax. I also write down on my calendar when I'm taking a day (or a few days) off so that time remains clear and is truly "time off".
And it feels really good to see all those items lined through on my calendar, to see all I have accomplished. It also feels good to see all the things to do lined up for the next six weeks. It tells me business is good!  |