Trade in Your "To-Do" List

Trade in your To-Do list for a more productive day. I've switched over to an "I-Did" list. It started one day when my husband came home to a complete disaster, none of the dishes done and no clean underwear. (It was also the day that the washing machine flooded two bedrooms and the kids had the stomach flu.) "What did you DO all day?!" I was exasperated, so I started writing down all the things I DID that day. When I looked at the completed list, I think I was more amazed than he was!

When you create a "to-do" list, it tends to linger on and on alllll day long. The more things you cross off, the more things you add. Thus, by bedtime, you are left with an intimidating reminder of what you DIDN'T accomplish, and you start your next day with that too! It's just like your kids: If you reward them for every little thing they do, that sense of accomplishment alone can carry them through their day!

I keep my daily "I-DID" list in a small notebook (Wal-Mart 88 cents!). I keep it in the same place all the time, so every time I do something, I write it down (folded laundry! packed lunches!).

If you still find you need a list of "helpful reminders," do it first thing in the morning and set an "appointment" (just like any good self-respecting CEO would). I've found that if I assign a time for things, they get done. For example, if I just write "exercise" on a to-do list, it really means: "Well, at some point, if the opportunity presents itself, move that body." However, if I write "10:00 AM Run," I know that I have an appointment -- it's going to get done. Also, I assign a time for things I know can be a distraction to me (i.e. right now, I've set aside a half hour for "computer-zone-out-time").

Speaking of running, I wear a pedometer and add my total amount of steps at the end of my "I-DID" list. Try it for ONE day and even YOU will be amazed at all you accomplish in a day's time (and how much ground you cover - one mile is only about 2,000 steps!).

Whew! Sorry that was so long! Gotta run -- my half hour's up!

• share tip
• 
• 1 comment
• 
• who approved it?
• 
• more tips like this