I have too much to do! I never get everything done! Most
professionals share this concern. If you’ll spend just five minutes a day
faithfully using two simple tools, you can solve a lot of frustration.
First, you need to recognize that on any day you can think up more
to do than you can possibly do. Four things limit what you’ll be able to
accomplish: time, talent, resources, and energy. Only your talent limits what
you can think up. Part of your problem may be rooted in your creative talent.
Next, look at how you plan your day. You might make these common
mistakes: using an ordinary to-do list, and not estimating how long things take
and adjusting accordingly.
Two cures for to-do-list frustration are a Holding Pen and
Priority List. First, create a Holding Pen where you list all your to-dos
as you think of them. At the start of each day, create a priority list by selecting
items from the Holding Pen—those priorities you can achieve today.
Next, take a minute to estimate how long each item will take, and
adjust the list accordingly. Two hints: 1) Things take longer than you believe—plan
accordingly; and 2) Build in time for the unexpected.
As you think of more things to do, add them to your Holding Pen.
Then you are free to get back to the one priority of the moment with vigor. And
you won’t forget anything because it’s captured in your Holding Pen.
When you use the Holding Pen and Priority List, you can expect a
triple win:
1. All mental energy focuses on priorities. The mental or psychic
energy that goes into worrying takes away from your focus on the one Most Important
Now. With the Holding Pen and Priority List, this is changed. You accept and are
thankful that you have the talent to create more to do in a day than you can do.
You focus on the most important.
2. Increased achievement. You achieve more because you do not lose
focus worrying about not getting it all done; and by focusing 100 percent of your
mental energy, you join the ranks of outstanding achievers.
3. Increased satisfaction. “I got it all done!” Imagine
most of your days ending by saying, “I got it all done!” PE
