The ToDo list.

The ToDo list sounds like a great productivity tool. It's simple, can be totally tech-free, helps you accomplish your goals, is an easy reminder system... AND has the ability to make you feel like an unproductive failure. When you consider the impact this seemingly benign helpful list has on your psyche, you can begin to accept and acknowledge how powerful it really is.

Think about the last time you were really inspired to be organized, to get on top of things, to get that lingering project done etc. You sat down and wrote out all the things that needed to be accomplished to achieve your goal. Great! You then organized and prioritized the items on the list. Super! Then you merged them into your schedule in do-able pieces and checked them off, completed, daily. You rock! -- Did you fall off the boat anywhere in the process? Most likely, yes, or you wouldn't be reading the ideas of your friendly neighborhood Simplifier.

How do you feel when you don't finish all the items on your ToDo list? Does this contribute to a feeling of being overwhelmed? Does it undermine your confidence in your ability to charge out there and achieve your goals? Or do you simply throw your list in the ToDo pile for later and sort through a bunch of half-lists looking for important things not to be missed every once in a while?

Hence, my assertion that the ToDo list can be a powerful tool, able to help us feel elated or like crap solely based on whether its contents are checked off or not. While this brings us to a larger issue, that of the ToDo list as a support tool of Planning rather than a Driving Force of my day, I'll head it off here to end with the first and foremost consideration for creating do-able ToDo lists.

Only Simple items are allowed on the ToDo list. By 'Simple' I mean that no other actions are required in order to accomplish the one on the list.

An acceptable item: Call Dr. X to set up a dentist appointment for teeth cleaning.
NOT an acceptable item: Find a dentist. (where? how?)
Acceptable: Call (friend) Chris and ask about his dentist, would he recommend?

A more complex example:
You've bumped up on your priority list the project: advertise in newsletter.

Test question: Does this, 'advertise in newsletter,' go on the ToDo list?

Answer: No . . . unless your ad is already designed AND in the right size AND in the proper format AND you already have submission contact info. In this case, the ToDo item would be better worded as, 'Submit ad to Jane at the Newsletter'

Yes - Call newsletter contact and find out who the ad rep is.
Yes - Call ad rep and inquire about ad sizes, prices, format, placement, color vs b&w, and deadline.
Yes - Design draft ad
Yes - Show ad to another for proofing
Yes - Finalize ad and save in correct format
Yes - Submit ad to Jane
Yes - follow up with Jane to make sure she got it, and that it is placed where you agreed

You get the picture!