Get More Done With Three Lists of Three
Lists help us get things done.
The ability to write down and organize your goals and objectives are highly conducive to working efficiently and quickly.
However, if we’re not careful, these lists can sometimes get out of control, growing to gorilla-sized proportions.
At this point, having a list is pointless. We spend more time organizing the list than we spend working. The Three Lists of Three method is a pretty nifty way for keeping your list to a manageable size. It works like this:
Make three lists each day as you sit down to work. The first list is for 3 things that you are going to get done today. The second list is for 3 things that you will get done today if you have time. The third list is for 3 things that will get done eventually.
This way, you’ll never find yourself looking through your list for something to do and you’ll be able to cross off 3 or more things from your list everyday.
For a more concrete example:
- Day 1
- Get Done
- Read chapters 1-5
- Write essay on Transcendentalism
- Call Mary about obtaining scholarship
- Get Done If Time
- Read chapter 5-10
- Brainstorm for creative writing short story
- Learn about Eclipse IDE
- Get Done Eventually
- Finish Transforming the Mind
- Write short story for creative writing
- Implement Eclipse IDE
- Get Done
Photo by -clb-
[...] simple To Do List is often a huge help to anyone, but I can attest gleefully to the 3 Lists of 3 Method more than any [...]
[...] items from a to-do list is a great way to get motivated again. Once again, I highly recommend the Three Lists of Three method as it allows for deeper focus on a specific task without the risk of an overflowing [...]
I like this. I don’t know if it’ll work, but I like it. I’m going to try it tomorrow, as I seem to have a horrible time accomplishing anything on a Monday.
Great post!
[...] day and focus on making sure those are completed, no matter what. Our favorite technique is the Three Lists of Three [...]
excellent!
Okay, but what if your daily to-do list of things that HAVE to get done is about 20 items long?
[...] 30. For a week, try the 3 Lists of 3 Method. [...]
[...] simple To Do List is often a huge help to anyone, but I can attest gleefully to the 3 Lists of 3 Method more than any other. You’re goal is to avoid a list that reaches outrageous length and is [...]
Sounds effective to me.