Life Of E's

Recently, a faculty member who had been in one of my workshops sent me this question:

If you have any specific suggestions for resources related to keeping, managing, and using To Do lists, several people have also asked me for ideas in this area. Since this is one I struggle with, I haven’t been much help. Anything you can pass along would be great!

Anyway, here are some tips and resources (not in any particular order): 

1. Everyone must use some type of to-do list, either paper or electronic.
2. It needs to be updated daily rather than some GIANT to-do list which overwhelms us and makes it impossible to focus on what needs to be done now.
3. Paper: Either have a daily to-do list in your planner (like the Franklin planner, Day-Timer, Day-Runner or other type or carry around a notebook that is designated as your ‘list of things to do.’ Personally, I use the to-do list in my Franklin planner. I can have it available anytime, anywhere (on a plane, in bright sunlight, etc.) so it works for me.
4. Electronic: Oh, my…lots of options

• Apparently Gmail now offers a to-do list. I haven’t used it but notice it’s now there.
• Outlook offers a to-do list (as do most of the other standard email programs)
• http://www.tadalist.com/ which seems pretty nifty and now that I have an iPhone, I’m sort of tempted to give this a try.
• Gina Trapani’s website, www.LifeHacker.com has a bunch of articles that are useful, too.

People need to have a to-do list that they compile each day, based on what else is going on. And, they need to refer to it constantly to make sure they are staying on track rather than veering off into the urgent but not important activities. It’s part of why I like the paper because it’s staring at me all day. Although, with digital, you can set alarms, too.

And if people also want to know about a ‘not-to-do list,’ then they can click to get info on the not-to-do list.  

Hope these ideas help some…Feel free to send them along…

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Tags: gmail, planners, Productivity, Professors, to do lists