The LKC brings you three simple task lists to help organize your projects, client tasks, or weekly tasks.
Project Task List
When you have multiple projects happening at the same time, many of us find these projects start to mix together, nagging us constantly at the back of our minds and refusing to leave us alone until we get it done - or at least until we get it down on paper.
To use this sheet, put the name of your project at the top of each section (for example, “Website Build” or “Saturday Night Dinner Party”). Then think through the different steps or tasks within that project and list them under the three sections. Put A items, or top priority tasks, at the top – medium priority in the middle, and lowest priority at the bottom. This is the order in which you should tackle these smaller tasks for that particular project. You now have a very simple roadmap to help you make your way through these projects!
Pro tip: Try not to overload yourself with too many different active projects at any one time. If you do everything at once, you’ll only be able to put in a “so-so” amount of effort to each of them. Strive to put more of your energy into a fewer number of projects, and you’ll be able to see an increase in speed and results.
Weekly Task List
Your brain doesn’t think in terms of projects but you know what you need to get done this week in general? The goal here is to decide which day something needs to be done, and how important it is in relation to the other items on your To Do List. If you don’t need to do something until Thursday, put it on the list for that day and be sure to forget about it until then. This way you can focus on the other more important tasks in your life right now, but you’ll be able sleep easy knowing that the future tasks won’t be forgotten.
Again, list each task specifically within an A, B, or C section, and don’t tackle B items until the top priorities, A items, for that day are completed.
Pro tip: Set this up at the beginning of each week. Be clear with yourself, set a plan or a roadmap, but also be flexible and change as the week unfolds. The point of writing is not to say that you cannot change, but to create a plan to help you get to the final destination. Think of any navigation app – you type in the destination and it gives you a roadmap. If it finds traffic along the way, it recalculates and gives you a new route. You don’t always know the new roads, but it still helps you get to the final destination. (If you don’t know your final destination, let’s work on that first. It’s impossible to create a map if you don’t know where you’re going. Sure, it’s fun to wander and sometimes stumble upon new things when you get lost, but let’s admit it – that’s not why you’re here, right?)
Client Task List
You may have many different clients (each of which may even have their own set of projects!). With the Client Task List, get all of those “monkey brain” thoughts, as Tim Ferriss likes to call them, out of your head and onto a piece of paper. What are the most important items for each of your clients? Be sure to list them in order of importance, putting the most pressing items in the A column, working your way through to the C tasks.
I am an adamant believer in writing things down – using an actual pen/pencil and paper. Not only does this help make our decisions real, committing us to take action, but it actually also starts us thinking about the next steps necessary to accomplishing them. This in turn gives us the motivation and insight needed to move forward. Many times we’re surprised to see how much we’re able to do, even when we thought we didn’t know the process.
Give it a try, and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Happy planning!
