Why do lists do not work and what to do

There is nothing easier than to be controlled with a task list. I wrote their affairs in a column, and then you take and simply expunged as execution. What else you can think of?

However, if you look at the number of different desktop, mobile and web applications that implement this concept, it becomes clear that all is not so simple. Despite the diversity of tools and features, task lists are still not working! Maybe you just do not know how to use them?

All people are beginning to use task managers at a time when they feel that their daily routine into chaos. They start to forget important things to do, confused prioritization of tasks and assignments, and colleagues fed late for a date. At that moment, a man picks up a "tudushku" taste and is trying to make in your life organized. And, as a rule, at first he did succeed. But after a while, and to-do lists do not work, and the initial chaos back to life.

Why it happens?

The fact that the management tasks - this is just a tool. Which is that it worked well, it must be configured properly. And here are some tips to make it.

1. Separate

In no case can not dump all your large and small business into one big, long list. There is nothing more depressing than the contemplation of his task list, where several dozen records. In this case, the probability ever get to the tail of the list to zero. Various studies of productivity in general say that the number of your tasks on the same sheet should not exceed 7-8 units. Therefore, separate tasks lists by category, project, topic, urgency and other symptoms.

2. add timeline

In accordance with Parkinson's Law, the work always takes as much time as you allot to it. Therefore, maintaining a list of tasks is only useful if you're next to each item write the approximate run time. Yes, in fact, possible deviations will be observed; yes, some days generally everything goes topsy-turvy, but basically this approach works. Put down the approximate run time of a case, you will subconsciously seek to conform him, and it is fundamentally changing the rules of the game. Try it and you will be surprised how powerful tool will be your task list.

3. prioritize

This item is easy to follow. Important matters are carried out in the first place, small and non-urgent - given the time available. It remains only to prioritize their list, and to do so properly. After all, there are very urgent matters, but it does not matter to you. And sometimes vice versa. Therefore, we offer you the following set of priorities:

• important and urgent matters;
• important but not urgent;
• urgent but not important;
• non-urgent and unimportant.

4. Measure

And the last rule in the list, but not the least important, is the need for analysis and evaluation of your list. Do not seek to immediately hide and to forget the task execution. Try to identify the end of each week for several hours and at the end of the month, perhaps even a whole day to summarize. Pick up from the archives of erased elements and appreciate that you gave their performance.

• How well and quickly you will cope with their work?
• Was it possible to make it better, or maybe should not have engaged in this business?
• How much you have progressed in the direction of your goal?
• What should be done to advance another step forward?

Once you answer these and similar questions, your list for you to acquire an entirely different meaning. He evolved from a simple zapisochnika "something to remember" a powerful decision-making tool, planning and analysis of achievements.