How I Keep Myself On-Task

I recently started using lists (like.. on paper…) to buy back my time and get more done. And I’ve learned to do it in a very specific way that keeps my butt moving. Let me explain.

I split life into 3 important action categories: health, relationships, and work. In each of these categories I list the tasks I need to get done. Just basic checklists. For example, grocery shopping, cleaning, and going to the gym are tasks under health. Planning a date with my girlfriend goes under relationships, and writing this blog goes under work. 

The most critical part is to write down a deadline. Is this an after work, weekend, or power hour checklist? I play with the timescale to dial up my productivity. One checklist for the whole weekend works great for me, but I need to make smaller checklists for each day after work (not one checklist for all 5 days). This flexibility is important because it keeps me from mentally punishing myself if I want to take a break to have some fun, but I can still remain accountable to my deadline. 

I’m thinking of this because my 24th birthday is tomorrow, and the only thing I really want is more time. I like to have lots of projects cooking outside my day job, and it’s getting harder to keep up with them. Maybe you have goals you can’t find time or energy to work towards, or maybe you need to increase your output for other reasons. Try this checklist trick and let me know how it goes.

And as always, BE EPIC