You've probably heard the advice by now: successful people have short to-do lists because they focus on what's important. That's all well and good, but when your to-do list is a mile long, curating it becomes overwhelming... but it doesn't have to be! Here's a quick exercise you can do to get that to-do list in better shape:
1. Write down 1-2 goals
This is actually the hardest part if you haven't done some goal setting previously! For this exercise, you'll want to look at your short to mid-term goals, things like "Hire a new engineers" or "Get 50 users this month." If you have more than a couple goals right now, pick the ones that are weighing most heavy on your mind.
2. Write down everything you have to do in one long list
If you already have one, you're ahead of the game! I did this one in Canva to spare you my handwriting, but using paper or a whiteboard is often best. You'll also notice I have a typo in one of the entries. I decided to leave it in - your to-do list can be messy and incomprehensible as long as you understand it!
3. Read through the list one by one
If it's something that will help you with the goals you wrote down during step 1, put a star by them. If it's something that doesn't directly help you achieve your goals but has to get done (like running payroll), underline it. If it's neither, cross it out (or move it to a different list).
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4. Read through the list again
If you see something that someone else on your team can accomplish, put their name next to it. If you see something that will take you less than 20 minutes, put a dot by it.
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5. Rewrite the list
This seems like busy work but it's an important step for feeling less overwhelmed. Rewrite the list to change some of the line items to show that you're delegating them... and put a dot next to them if the delegation will only take a few minutes.
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6. Start by tackling the quick tasks
Now that you know what tasks will be fastest to accomplish, start there. Not only will you be able to get a ton of things done and feel accomplished, it will also help clear your head so you can focus better on the larger tasks.
7. Take a break!
You deserve it!
While methods like this one can be very useful, sometimes it's nice to have some outside help with deciding on goals and prioritization. That's where coaching comes in! If you're interested in exploring coaching options, schedule a 20 minute call today.