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Derek Lovett
November 3, 2024
We do it all the time. Ideas pop into our heads and we start jotting them down as things to be done. And before we know it we have 5, 10, 15 items that start to build pressure on us. While our intentions are good, the product is typically not. Not only does this cycle add stress to our lives, but it also makes us less efficient in our productivity.
Before I get down to the nuts and bolts, I want you to reflect on something. When you make those long lists, how often is it that you actually complete them? If you complete them more than 20% of the time, then you are in rare company. On the contrary, statistics have proven that by making shorter lists individuals become three times more likely to accomplish the items on their list. What does that tell us? It tells us that an individual’s capacity to execute tasks is not the problem —the problem stems from a lack of focus.
Let’s break this down into numbers. Some sources say that no more than 5 items is ideal for a To-Do list. So, let’s assume that the average person completes 4 out of 5 of those items per day. Over the course of three days that is a total of 12 items. On the contrary, what about the person with a list of 15 items on Day 1? A 2019 study stated that almost 60% of Americans were regularly putting off about 14 things on their to do lists. I wonder why? The larger the list the more that you subconsciously spread your focus until you aren’t really honoring in on any particular thing. Reduce your list, simplify your life!
For some individuals, minimizing their gigantic lists to just 4 or 5 of items per day can seem very challenging. After all, it’s human nature to want to jot down everything that comes to mind —it we don’t want to miss anything! But all things just aren’t expedient. If we want to be at peak productivity, we have to learn how to stop hoarding tasks. If you would like to discover some principles and strategies to help you minimize your list, visit us at www.refreshrefocusrebuild.com.
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