You Should Make a List of “don’ts”
You’ve heard of a to-do list, but what you might really need is a don’t-do list. Instead of focusing on all the tasks you need to do, you may find it helpful to look at everything you don’t need to do or even shouldn’t do. It sounds like a waste of time, but it’s actually not: having a clear idea of what you don’t want to distract your attention is a great way to prioritize your time and focus on what really matters. There are two types of don’t lists, and here’s what you need to know.
What not to do 1: Bad habits
The first list of don’ts is a list of bad habits to avoid. It’s all about setting goals. The habits that are holding you back may be obvious to you or you may not be aware of some of them, but once you start writing them down, new ones will appear.
Some suggestions are:
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Don’t sleep more or less than you should, meaning you go to bed on time and don’t go to bed in the morning.
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Don’t delay responding to emails.
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Don’t skip breaks and lunch.
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Don’t save all your work until it’s due or you have to leave your job.
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Don’t work all day and night without setting boundaries for your days off.
By making a list, you will discover the problem areas you are facing. Set aside time, say, every Monday morning to review and update your list, track the progress you made in not getting those things done last week, remove anything you’ve overcome, and add new pain points you’ve encountered. As simple as it may seem, writing it all down gives you a road map and something concrete to focus on while you break bad habits.
Two-not-2: Tasks You Don’t Need to Do
Many productivity techniques focus on what exactly you need to contribute to your workplace, team, or various responsibilities, but some of the best ones also leave you the option of delegating tasks to others . Saying “no” to requests or new tasks that you don’t have the ability to do or have no reason to do is a special talent that we all need to get a little better at developing. One way to do this is to keep a list of tasks that you don’t touch.
Consider making a list that includes things like the following so you can set clear boundaries and stick to them:
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Don’t take on other people’s responsibilities for a group project.
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Don’t get involved with a person who refuses to communicate.
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Don’t waste time on emails that are unlikely to be answered.
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Don’t plan everyone’s work for them.
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Don’t agree to new project elements until existing issues are resolved.
Keeping a real record of what line you’re drawing in the sand will help you actually stick to that line. It’s also helpful to have an idea of what you’ll say if and when someone asks you to do something on your don’t-do list. Thanks to the existence of a list, you can simply say, “I appreciate that you are thinking of me about this, but there is no room for it in my current schedule right now. I’ll let you know when I’ve finished everything I need to do.”
Once you have compiled your lists, refer to them. Keep them somewhere you’ll see them, like next to your computer or in a note on your phone, and let the ability to write down things you’re not going to do guide you as you work through your actual to-do list.