Find Yourself Adding Items to Your To-Do List Just so you can Feel the Joy of Crossing them off?

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - April 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Technology has made it easier for us to accomplish more in a day than was possible 10 or more years ago.  I believe that the development of software, devices and apps has increased pressure and wired us to multitask a little too much.  As a business owner or sales executive, the daily business demands alone can wear you down, not to mention personal and/or family responsibilities that we all have.  I am going to share an easy way to organize your to-do’s on good old fashioned paper.  In 5-10 minutes you can reduce stress and see a clear map or your priorities.

First, take a piece of paper and draw 4 Quadrants - a line down the center from top to bottom and another line across the center from left to right.  Label each quadrant as follows:

Quadrant #1 (top left): “Urgent and Important”
Quadrant #2 (top right) “Urgent, Not Important”
Quadrant #3 (bottom left): “Important, Not Urgent”
Quadrant #4 (bottom right): “Not Urgent, Not Important”

Quadrant number #1 should contain time sensitive items that have a negative consequence if not completed.  For example, paying your credit card bill on-time.

Quadrant #2 should contain time sensitive items that have an optional consequence, but not necessarily adverse.  For example, buying concert tickets before they sell out.

Quadrant #3 should contain items that carry weight, but lacks a high urgency.  For example, it is important to schedule a dental checkup, but if you put off that call for a day or two, it won’t be the end of the world.

Quadrant #4 should contain items – mostly of personal interest or longer term business goals that are not time sensitive to the week, and if they don’t get done, there is no immediate negative consequence.

As you review your quadrants, you’ll be able to knock out items by their urgency and importance.  This will help reduce procrastination which often leads to stagnation.  Be sure to include difficult phone calls and conversations you need to have with people.  It is right to include your personal and family business on this list as some things are urgent and need to be set in motion or dealt with during business hours.  As you cross items off, you’ll feel any stress or anxiety you feel towards “all of the things you have to do” go down.  You may even catch yourself writing things down on your chart after you accomplished them just so you can feel the joy of crossing it off of your list.