Do you have a to-do list? Keeping a list is a common way for people to track tasks, but in Adam Grant’s TED TALK, How to Stop Languishing and Start to Find Flow, he suggests having a “to-don’t list.” A to-don’t list can include items like; don’t scroll through social media, don’t check the phone in bed, don’t turn on the TV unless there is already a plan to watch. He explains that these rules help him stay productive and manage his time more effectively. It is something to consider as we continue in this busy part of the year where many people are shuffling commitments and chores, at work and home, trying to find time to get it all done.
Maybe the idea of a to-don’t list is not appealing to you. Still, the more significant point Grant made is essential to anyone seeking to increase their productivity— be intentional with your time. One of the most critical elements of good time management is prioritizing your tasks and your work. There are various effective techniques for evaluating a to-do list and splitting it into categories based on priority.
One strategy to implement quickly in times of high stress is the 4 Ds of Time Management. It is simple to start; when you have a task to complete, you give yourself four options to deal with it.
1. Do- Get it Done Right Away!
2. Defer- Delay Until Later.
3. Delegate- Can Anyone Complete the Task? Is it Your Responsibility?
4. Delete- Drop it.
To start with the 4 Ds technique, examine your to-do list at the beginning of the day and assess your tasks. Then decide what can be done quickly right now, either by you or someone else, and which items to drop altogether or save for later. For example, look at this chart below from the glossary at www.productplan.com where they organize potential to-do list items by the 4 Ds.
Applying the 4 Ds method should make planning easier. Decide, process your first task, and move to the next one, then repeat. When we prioritize and process tasks in this way, it provides efficiency. We can spend more time focusing rather than wasting effort on insignificant things or scrambling for everything at the end of the day.
Whatever time management technique or strategy works for you, it is something to commit to daily and to revisit throughout the day. Because our responsibilities and demands limit our time, we must use care to decide how we spend the days. When we are intentional in our time management, it allows us to protect and plan for what matters most to us this season, like family, rest, and self-care.
At Bauman Consulting Group, we provide both individual and group coaching to help people achieve their personal and professional goals. Find out more at www.baumanconsultinggroup.com. Or contact us via email at info@baumanconsultinggroup.com.