Why You Should Create a To NOT Do List

Part of the work I do with the owners of IT Solution Providers and Managed Service Providers (MSP’s) is inevitably based around time management and productivity. I say inevitably, because for all of us trying to grow a business – there are too many things that need to be done, and not enough time to do them.

With the fact being that the number of hours in a day isn’t about to increase anytime soon, you need to learn how to cut out the unimportant and focus on the important activities that will move you forwards.

I teach business owners about GTD, I share with them techniques on how to manage e-mail, and talk about being in the moment.

But the biggest challenge? Giving up the un-important. Discarding those things you shouldn’t be doing. Breaking the time-eating habits you’ve formed.

The Not To Do List

Many of us have “To Do” lists. I’m now suggesting we should also have “To NOT Do” lists that might feature:-

• Do NOT check e-mail until you’ve completed an important task
• Do NOT check e-mail more than twice per day
• Do NOT look at Twitter more than once an hour
• Do NOT look at Facebook until after work
• Do NOT eat your lunch at your desk
• Do NOT schedule meetings back-to-back

Conclusion

There are plenty more, and you will probably have a list that looks different to mine, but by creating a To NOT Do list and writing out the activities you know aren’t productive, you’ll be going a long way towards becoming more aware of those “tasks” that actually do little good and in reality eat time that is better spent elsewhere.

 

photo credit: ironybelle via photopin cc

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