So to help accomplish things this year, I’m reverting to my old, tried and true but rarely used (lately) lists and reviews. Here’s how they work.
Each evening, I make a list of things to do for the following day. The lists get long. That’s okay, though, because I know going into it I’m might not be able to accomplish everything. But still I try like crazy to accomplish everything on the list. And I save the lists.
At the end of the week, and this is important, I review the lists. I look to see what I checked off. I look to see what I didn’t check off. Sometimes the things I’ve not accomplished are actually the more important things. In that case, I switch my priorities for the following week to accomplish those things.
Other times the things I’ve not accomplished were not accmplished because they’re not as important. In that case, I plan for the next week not to include those types of tasks.
It’s a simple process. The lists help me get everything out of my head. I don’t have to remember anything. I just read my list. That’s helps with the stress of having a ton of items on the list (and that’s important too – keep things very specific so the list gets long. It’s too easy to procrastinate on a task when it’s not specific enough. Lots of small items, not a few large ones).
The reviews help you plan and test. Improving at anything is often just a matter of doing, reflecting on what you’ve done, and doing more of what works. It’s not complicated. But I for one forget to make it a specific daily habit.
That’s the plan. I know if I actually do this, it will help emensely. It worked through 21 credits in a semester. Now it’s just a matter of sticking to it.
