Boost Productivity by Ditching To-Do Lists

By Linda Galindo

Replace your to-do list with a more effective method for capturing your commitments: your calendar. Instead of writing a laundry list you never complete, assign each task a specific time on your schedule.

Guarantee you will meet your commitments with this system:

Schedule each step. When you agree to do something, put on your calendar the time it will require, not only the deadline. If you are going to write a report, for example, block time for research, writing and revision. When you schedule a meeting set aside time to prepare for the meeting and for follow-up activities such as preparing and distributing the minutes.

Include recurring tasks. Set times each day and week for the routine actions that usually don’t show up on to-do lists, such as checking e-mail, planning and organizing.

Check availability. Before you volunteer for or accept another assignment, look at your calendar.

Bottom line: When you use that system you gain a realistic view of time you have available to work.