Have you ever wondered whether or not you should remove a to-do list item?
Are you looking for tips on which to-dos to keep, and which to-dos to remove?
In this article, you’ll find a few time-based tips to help you figure out whether it’s time to remove an item from your list.
What is a To-Do List?
A to-do list is a list of items that must be accomplished within a specific duration of time.
Depending on your role and responsibilities, to-do lists may be used in your business or in your personal life.
They may cover both the depth and breadth of including but not limited to administrative, financial, operational, and household affairs.
To-do lists may include tasks that need to be completed within an hour or more or over the course of several days and weeks.
Why Should You Create a To-Do List?
Creating a to-do list is quite easy. You grab a piece of paper and pen and jot down to-dos. Or you can use a digital app to track items.
But why should you even create a to-do list in the first place? As a productivity coach, I can think of three key reasons why you should make such a list.
One reason to create a to-do list is that it helps you to organize your thoughts. Writing down tasks allows you to evaluate and prioritize tasks against one another.
Another reason to create a to-do list is to have a record of proposed future work. You can refer to old lists to better understand what work you wished to accomplish yesterday, last week, and beyond.
Yet another reason to create a to-do list is that it frees up thinking space in your mind. You can easily capture to-dos on paper without having to worry about forgetting them.
And that can allow you to better focus on your current work.
When Should You Use a To-Do List?
To-do lists are so versatile and can be used practically anywhere.
You can use a to-do list to help you create a brief list of must-do tasks for the day. These can be professional or personal tasks or a mix of the two.
The idea here in creating a list is to help you focus on three to five tasks that absolutely must be completed by the end of the day.
Likewise, you can use lists to help you focus on specific ongoing activities in your business or personal life.
For instance, maybe you’re getting ready to do some administration tasks in your business. You might quickly jot down three tasks like filing a file, mailing a letter, or making phone a call.
Another way to use to-do lists are for long-term projects and assignments. You might keep a running to-do list of items for say, a client project, marketing tasks, or weekly bookkeeping.
Conversely, if you find to-do lists to be overwhelming or challenging, you may want to consider a creating to-done list. This type of list is different because it records completed and finished tasks.
Why Should You Remove Items from a To-Do List?
I like to think of to-do lists as snapshots in time. As I mentioned earlier, they are a representation of tasks that you wished to accomplish during a certain day and hour.
So, it’s only natural that with the passage of time, to-dos can become a bit outdated, unnecessary, or unhelpful.
Keeping unnecessary items on a to-do list can drain your focus and attention, distract you from your current priorities, and create a frustrating work situation.
Of course, not all to-dos will need to be removed from a list. But it’s important to understand that some to-dos may need to be reviewed and removed from time to time.
How to Really Know When to Remove an Item from Your To-Do List
It’s an all too common sight…a task that’s been taking up space on your list for days.
Now that you think about it, the to-do has been sitting there for weeks…possibly even several months!
You’re downright puzzled. What should do you with the item?
Should you keep the to-do on your list? Maybe you should you remove it from the list entirely?
Or should you think about moving it to some other location?
This may come as a surprise, but sometimes the best course of action is to simply remove an item from your to-do list.
Here’s a few tips to help you with the process.
You can’t remember creating the To-Do
Puzzled about that odd-looking to-do at the bottom of your list?
Having trouble remembering when you added the item to your list in the first place?
If so, then it’s probably time to cross the item off your list.
You may be thinking, “What? Remove the item? Isn’t that counterintuitive?”
Look at it this way: if you can’t clearly identify the item now, guess what? You’ll be even more hard-pressed figuring out why you wrote the item in three- or six-months’ time.
All the more reason to cut your losses and strike the to-do from your list.
Your to-do doesn’t support your goals
By nature, to-do lists are snapshots of moments in time.
The to-do list you create today will be very different from one you create in a year’s time.
Chances are, the goals you’ve set for yourself at this very moment are much different than the goals you set for yourself twenty-four months ago.
Take a good hard look at the to-do in question. Is it relevant to the life you are living right now? Does it have any relationship or bearing to your present goals and projects?
If not, it’s probably a good move to remove it from your list…and your life.
Your List will waste time in future
This tip requires some creative thinking. You originally placed the to-do on your list in the past. But how will the to-do relate to your future?
Will the to-do waste your precious time from a pressing professional or personal project?
Will the to-do steal your attention and take away your focus?
And most importantly, will the to-do unnecessarily sap your energy and willpower?
It’s certainly worth taking a moment to think about this.
If you can cut a time-sucking to-do from your list now, you’ll save yourself a chunk of time in future. It’s as easy as that!
In case we haven’t yet met virtually, it’s nice to meet you! Hi, I’m Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert®, productivity coach for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals.
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