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Task Lists |
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Of the four types of
task lists, you’re probably spending too much time on the wrong
three.
Have you ever stopped to consider that your
daily task list might well determine your success in life? Ponder
that for a moment.
If you’re not yet using a task list of
some sort, one has to ask, “How do you achieve what’s important to
you?” Without a plan—your goals broken down into manageable tasks—
it is far less likely that you will achieve your most important
aspirations in life.
A task list comprises the vast majority
of our daily prioritization, and thus, how we spend our time.
Oftentimes, many of those tasks, action items and task lists are
given to us by other people based their priorities. While
such task lists are important, it’s essential that you set aside and
focus a portion of your energy on your own task list, tasks,
and action items.
Your task list contains the little
stepping stones to almost everything you will accomplish and
experience in life. Never thought of that, did you? Well, it’s time
to think about it now. It’s generally not the big, sweeping
decisions that drive our lives but rather the daily tasks and time
well-spent or squandered that determines where we are at the end of
each day. Add all those days together and you get years, and
eventually, a lifetime. Therefore, it becomes essential to
consciously create a task list (or task lists) that is based on
your priorities.
Task lists generally fall into four
categories:
Task List Type #1: Life’s Maintenance
Tasks
These tasks are an essential part of life, and you
already manage them day-in and day-out. They encompass things like
mowing the lawn, going out with friends, or paying the bills.
They’re planned, sometimes well in advance and sometimes on short
notice, but you decide when and how to get them done pretty much on
your own. They will never stop coming, so get good at them and enjoy
checking them off.
Task List Type #2: Delegated
Tasks
You may receive a lot of these tasks from your boss
or spouse. It’s just a part of life for most of us, so things like
time management and organization skills become very important, or
you could easily spend all your time pursuing someone else’s agenda
and ignoring your own. Learn when to say, “No” and avoid
over-committing.
Task List Type #3: Unexpected
Tasks
Tasks like filling up the gas tank, picking up your
sick child up from school, or stopping at the store on the way home
occur so frequently that it’s a wonder they’re still “unexpected.”
They are generally unpredictable and need immediate attention or
else something undesirable could happen. Therefore, they tend to
bump other tasks off the daily priority list.
With all
those tasks listed above coming at you every day, it’s little wonder
you have no time or energy left for the most important type of task
list…
Task List Type #4: Meaningful Tasks (Most
important, but often overlooked!)
Meaningful tasks are
those that are part of a bigger plan that you’ve designed. Your
goals and plans are comprised of meaningful tasks — the stepping
stones to your goals that make life fulfilling for you. If you
haven’t been managing your goals, then the meaningful tasks that
would get you there are missing for your daily routine. In order to
accomplish your goals in life, you have to have a plan and make time
for the meaningful tasks that are required to achieve your goals.
Tools for Managing Your Goals and Task
ListmyGoals.com (this Web site) was designed to help you
set, manage, and achieve the goals that are important to you.
myGoals.com's pre-made GoalPlans®, goal-setting wizard,
and email reminders are extremely effective in creating viable plans
and keeping you on track. GoalPlans are designed to enable you to
break your goals down into small, manageable tasks that you perform
based on a schedule that works for you. This way your meaningful
tasks become a part of your regular routine rather than being pushed
aside by everything else going on in your life.
myGoals.com
first helps you identify the goals that are important to you, and
them create a plan to achieve each goal. Each GoalPlan encompassing
the meaningful tasks—your daily or weekly to do list—is e-mailed to
you at the appropriate time to help keep you on track. There is no
easier, more effective way to manage the tasks and to-do lists
necessary to reach your short- and long-term goals.
To learn more or sign up for a free
trial, visit our goal-setting homepage.
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