I used to be a REALLY organized person. Some would say I was a fanatic about it. I was diligent about planning my day, not only making lists of what needed to be done, but also prioritizing that list according to importance. At the end of each day, I would review my list for the tasks I did not manage to get done and add them to the next day’s list. This sounds like a great way to get more accomplished and manage your time… in a perfect world. However, we all know we do not live in a perfect world. Invariably, something always happens to turn that perfectly planned list completely upside down! For someone who was truly focused on “getting it all done,” not only was it frustrating when I had to carry tasks over to the next day, it was beyond stressful to have my list trashed by circumstances that I had absolutely no control over!
Did you catch the most important word in that last paragraph? I’ll spare you the hunt and just tell you. It’s “control.”
Let’s be honest. Another way to describe an organization fanatic is “control freak.” I admit it. That was me. Thank goodness I finally came to my senses and realized this was a direct path to high blood pressure, lack of sleep, bad eating habits, and any number of other health issues that result from a high-stress lifestyle. I finally realized there are those things I can control and those I cannot. If I can, then I should decide what I need to do and simply do it. If I cannot, then I need to let it go and move on. Sounds simple? Again, let’s be honest… it’s not.
For someone who was so personally invested in organization, order, and time management, shifting my perspective was not an easy exercise. For many like me, the idea of letting go has its own flavor of stress, but I have a tip for making the transition a bit more palatable. Try the “A-B-C” method:
When you make up your daily task list, feel free to prioritize, but start by deciding what tasks absolutely MUST be done that day, and be really honest about that “MUST” concept. Those go under the “A” list. Then decide which tasks could be done that day, but won’t rock the boat if they don’t. These go in the “C” list. Everything else is something you would really like to get done that day, if at all possible, and they belong in the “B” list. Now, you can prioritize your “A” and “B” list, but leave the “C” list alone. Take a deep breath… there is a good reason for this.
When you start your day, focus on your “A” list first. It will be a smaller list than your original, all encompassing list, and you are more likely to get it done. Then, move on to your “B” list, doing the same thing. You might finish it; you might not. If you do, then and only then can you move on to your “C” list, but you will likely never get to that one.
At the end of the day, decide what needs to be done the next day and add any new tasks to their respective A, B, or C list. If you didn’t get through your current “B” list, decide if those tasks need to be re-prioritized and moved to a different list. Many times, those remaining items really belong on the “C” list. At the end of your week, you will probably find that the items on the “C” list are not important enough to worry about and, for the most part, can be discarded.
For us “control freaks,” this is a great way to maintain some control over our day without allowing the task list to take control over us! It is also instrumental in helping us to learn how to better prioritize and let go of those time-wasters that masquerade as important tasks and do nothing more but add to our stress. For me, this method was a lifesaver! I’m still an organization fanatic, but I don’t let my task list stress me out anymore. I’ve learned how to do what I can and let the unimportant stuff go.
Try this tip on for size and let me know how it works for you! Of course, if there are some of those tasks that you really need to get done, but simply cannot find the time to do them, feel free to let me know. Maybe they are tasks I can move from your list to mine!
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