Ever get tired of hearing you should focus your time and energy only on high-value tasks?
You know … the important stuff.
But what about the not-so-important stuff? Those tasks that keep nagging at you. When are you gonna get those done?
We’d all like to work on high-value tasks and activities, but just about everyone today faces a relentless barrage of niggly tasks, an overwhelming inbox, promises you made, stacks of papers you need to file, and stuff you really ought to read.
I’m not telling you not to focus on high-value tasks. You definitely should. But if that’s all you do and you continue to ignore some of those lower-value things, they build up and could develop into annoying have-to’s down the road. Then you won’t have any option but to deal with them.
That’s not an ideal way to handle them.
Here’s my suggestion …
Every once in a while, schedule a day for the not-so-important stuff.
Whether you check them off, X them out, or draw a line through them, the effect is the same … it feels great to mark them done.
That little checkmark can …
- give you a rush of energy
- give you a sense of accomplishment
- motivate you to do more
- give you the relief of finally completing that task
The bottom line is that completing those lower-value tasks and finally getting them off your list feels good.
I know it’s not always easy to carve out that kind of non-critical time for yourself, but I bet you’ll get some high value out of doing it.
Make time to get rid of those nagging tasks. Get more stuff done.
Now, get on with your day!
