It’s estimated that 40-80% of the items on your to-do list never get completed. Here are some reasons why…

You don’t schedule for them – The easy part about a to-do list is writing it down. “Oh gee, I’ve got to do this and this and this, gosh I’m so accomplished!” Unfortunately, you’ll never get your to-do done if you don’t schedule a time to actually accomplish the task and if you don’t give enough time to actually complete it.

You wait for others – Your intention can be great, but if any part of the to-do depends on the efforts of others – and they do not have the urgency or the time to complete the task – then your to-do is dead in the water and won’t get done.

You defer your schedule to others – Always playing fireman at work? Yes, you become a hero, but you also become unproductive. Make sure you set aside “me” time. Sure that sounds selfish but before you put out fires, you need to build the firehouse.

You have the wrong order – Take a few minutes in the morning to see which to-dos are needed that particular day. Then use your pre-planned “me” time to accomplish the most difficult and unappealing ones first. Most people when faced with tasks they don’t like, will avoid and procrastinate, and that results in tasks that do not get accomplished. By having the self-discipline to work on the most unpleasant tasks first it will take away the apprehension you may have to complete (or even begin) tasks. Then you can look forward to the more fun tasks.

Your list becomes a wish list – Some things on your list simply don’t belong there. Your to-dos should be solidly grounded in your work or home planning. Review your to-do’s to make sure they are grounded in your true needs, goals, and plans. Then you must eliminate what does not serve the greater cause.

You can use your to-do lists to become far more productive than the average person simply by not doing what average people do. So let’s go out and get it done!

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