6 Reasons to Stop and Make your To-Do List....NOW

Most of the people do not like to create a To-Do list and think that it is a waste of time. However, they are totally wrong, creating a To-Do list allows you to prioritize most important tasks and most importantly help us in knowing what assignments and tasks we have to complete within time frame. Making a To-Do list is a significant work because if you have created first one with clear concepts in mind, than it will definitely help you out in completing all the tasks within deadlines.

Entrepreneurs, professionals and students must create their own To-Do lists because these exist for a reason that is to track your assigned tasks so that all get is done within allocated time frame. It will also improve your performance and give you better opportunities to maintain your work life balance. Even you can use your spare time in health and fitness related activities, maintaining of your habits or spending time with your friends and family members.

The most significant element of personal development is creation of To-Do list as it helps you in time management, project management, decision making, and prioritizing stuff so that you can increase your potential in your work and life. For smooth execution of all the activities, the dynamic productivity tool is To-Do list so you should make your habit to create it on regular basis. The six most imperative reasons why should you make a To-Do list are discussed below:

See the Big Picture:

To-Do lists help you seeing a big picture as you can list down all of your daily tasks so that you don’t have to memorize them that increase the risk of ignoring of important tasks. You know what you have to do. The more time you get will help you do research and strategically plan things as per their importance. It can be user study plan, career planning, decision making, risk taking, organizing or anything; you can easily perform your duties and responsibilities without hurdles. Making To-Do list is not the only thing to become a potential person but you have to follow it strictly. It will keep you active; help you coping with procrastination, time management and lead you to achieve your target goals and enhance your performance.

Prioritize Things:

You can prioritize things only when you are aware of your tasks. Align all of your important tasks first, do add the deadline of your work and track that whether you are able to complete them on time or not. The first step for setting priorities is to write down which tasks you have to perform today and are critical for achieving your goals and objectives. Although, a lot of time you will face challenges when you are bombarded with some urgent work so do not get panic and focus on tasks that are more important rather than urgent. Be confident and try to complete it, if you know that you alone cannot fulfill it than do take help of others, instead of stressing yourself out, it is a good idea to have some additional help. For example, today is your yearly appraisal than it is more important than performing your routine tasks. Here you have to prioritize things as per their importance and completing your goals for better performance.

Chaotic activities impact your results, therefore do reality checks first:

The most crucial factor of personal development is to go for reality check in circumstances where you are bombarded with things and alone you cannot accomplish it. If your boss has given you some urgent tasks and you are already completing other important tasks at the same moment it is better to take help of your other team members. Don’t pressurize yourself and don’t try to do hazardous work alone. You have been provided with the team, learn to delegate authority and add these tasks in your team’s To-Do list, like that you can be able to complete all the tasks within allocated timeline and these will be result-oriented. If you alone take all the responsibility than it will not guarantee results and will mark it as your poor performance. Therefore, do planning first and distribute tasks accordingly. Reality check is necessary and do check the probability of getting the work done. If not, than do communicate to your supervisor that you need more time.

Delegation of Authority:

Try to create a To-Do list of your team and delegate authority accordingly. Listing down of tasks will help in knowing that which tasks are allocated to which team member and when they have to submit it. It will not only help you but your team and department also in the completion of projects on time. This will enhance your potential and your business’ potential to serve your clients in best possible way and gain competitive edge.

Track your Tasks:

 To-Do list not only helps you in planning your future tasks but it also provides you details about your past performance and tasks you have completed. Making your own and team’s To-Do list helps you in better planning, decision making, organizing and controlling activities so that you can achieve better results in the future. Even your To Do list will help you in knowing when you got into trouble and how you coped up with the situation in the past, what your drawbacks were and how you can improve them in future. Try to follow your lists properly because it will keep you energetic and motivated otherwise you will become lazy and it leads to sluggish performance.

 Analyze your Past Performance and Better Plan for Future:

 Your To-Do list helps you in tracking your past performance and helps you in strategically plan your future task lists so that what mistakes you have made in the past can be avoided in future. It gives you insights for better decision making and proper work management. Analyze your To Do lists on monthly, semiannually or annually basis and identify your potential points and mistakes. Do your performance appraisal by yourself as well so that you know your tract of career growth.

There are seven tips that will help you in maximizing your productivity, make you efficient and minimize errors.

1. Write it Down as soon as you get the task and use right medium like Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Emails, Notepads, Stick Notes, Phone Apps and Smartphones/Tablets.
2. Write on the right place as nowadays our Smartphones are filthy rich with planners, tasks planners and To-Do list applications. You can even write on stick notes on your PC desktop or can use stick notes and place them on your workstation. Keep it in the place where you can easily view them.
3. Even add your doubtable tasks in the list
4. You can build momentum by adding obligatory tasks and goals as these will intrinsically motivate you to complete them
5. Make changes when necessary
6. Look at the list and don’t set aside. Put at the place where you can see and it reminds you of your most important tasks.
7. After successfully completed your listed tasks do mark it with words like Accomplished!, Done!, Completed! and others.

As concluding words, do proper management of your tasks as these will help you in prioritizing stuff, help you in achieving your job and career goals and impact positively on your performance. Better performance leads to attainment of rewards and appreciation from top management and company. Therefore, take the first step on the stairs of success and make your life easy by having To-Do list of your tasks. This will also help in looking at the big picture and mitigating chances of conflict among team members and supervisors.