Use this simple method to maintain your sanity with work.
How to stay sane with work (Quick Cheat Sheet):
- Make a to-do list the night before.
- Once done with that to-do list, no more work allowed.
- Never add stuff for the to-do list the same day. If someone asks you for something, reply with “Ok I’ve got it on my calendar for tomorrow!”
Over the years I've done work for different sized companies, companies of my own, different roles etc.
While I love doing work, sometimes I would keep adding stuff to my to-do lists and IT NEVER ENDED.
So a few years back I came up with some hard rules I must follow so I can maintain a steady amount of work output over the years without facing any sort of burnout.
1.) Make a to-do list the night before.
I have found making a to-do list BEFORE YOU GO TO BED to be the best way to stay productive during the day.
By making my to-do lists the night before, it mentally prepares me for what I need to do, and allows me to plan the day ahead of time.
Here's example of a to-do list you make the night before:
Always make this list the night before.
Before I started making to-do lists the night before, I’d wake up, go over the work I need to do, write out a ton of tasks, then dread doing them, or maybe not even have enough time in the day because I didn’t plan correctly. (Did you know 41% of to-do list items never get finished?)
Preparing your work the night before is so incredibly important, because you can define what a "successful" day of work is.
Once you finish those tasks, your day has been "successful!"
This brings us to the next step....
2.) Once done with that to-do list, no more work allowed.
I go through my to-do list and scratch off each item until finished.
A completely finished to-do list.
Sometimes I use a piece of paper to cover the entire page, and only scootch it down to the next item when finished with the last.
You can watch the whole process here (this is a video from 2012 and I still use this method every single day):
Once this to-do list is completely scratched off, work is officially done for the day.
I have to get off the computer and go do something else.
- Get outside.
- Go read.
- Listen to a podcast.
- Cook.
- Call friends/family.
- Do a fun project.
- Learn a new song.
- ...whatever.
I have found it super important to call it quits when you hit the end of your to-do list.
3.) Never add stuff for the to-do list the same day.
The most important part of this process is:
!!!!NEVER ADD STUFF TO YOUR TO-DO LIST THE SAME DAY!!!!
I'll repeat this again...
!!!!NEVER ADD STUFF TO YOUR TO-DO LIST THE SAME DAY!!!!
I'm going to repeat it once more....
!!!!NEVER ADD STUFF TO YOUR TO-DO LIST THE SAME DAY!!!!
One more time just to make sure you understand.....
!!!!NEVER ADD STUFF TO YOUR TO-DO LIST THE SAME DAY!!!!
If you keep adding stuff to your to-do list, you will start creating a never-ending to-do list, and you will never be "satisfied" with a good days work.
If someone asks you for something, reply with “Ok I’ve got it on my calendar for tomorrow!”
Here's several ways you can tell people in a polite way:
- "Ok I’ve got it on my calendar for tomorrow!"
- "I'll get it to you within 48 hours."
- "Got it, it's on my to-do list for tomorrow."
- "Awesome, I'll be handling it by 3pm tomorrow."
- "I'll get it to you in 24-48 hours."
So when someone asks you for something, assuming it's not 100% urgent, reply with “Ok I’ve got it on my calendar for tomorrow!”
I viciously guard my time and energy, so if someone wants a task done, I always tell them I have it on the to-do list for tomorrow.
Some people are not in a position where they can deflect every task for 24 hours, so for these people they should make it clear which tasks are REQUIRED for the same day, and which are not.
Many times people will promise something right away, which sets the expectation it will be done right away:
But what if you just try to mention you'll do something tomorrow:
If the boss absolutely needs this report earlier, they will mention it.
This exchange wasn't bad at all, and everyone knows the report will be done by 3pm tomorrow. By simply changing the wording of the response, everyone is happy.
I hope this helps you guard your time and set boundaries on your work much better :)
Sincerely,
Neville Medhora
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