3 Item Productivity

I love a good to do list.  Seriously.   I have a notebook and white board and I email myself reminders to do… But how do you keep it all together?   And how do you keep it efficient?   I came up with a productivity hack that keeps me focus and on task – and it all starts with a sticky note. 
 
First do a brain dump – on a white board or a notebook or app, whatever you have.   A brain dump is literally that.  You empty your mind of what you need to do.   No categorizing.   Just list.   Take a few minutes and gather the tasks from every available source.   Do you email yourself reminders like I do?  Scan your email.   Do you have slips of paper on your desk?  Get them out.
 
Brain dump everything you need to do.  Then, pick the top three things to do that day and write them on a sticky note.   It’s as easy as that.   Your priorities will show themselves as you decided what to list as your top three.   Maybe they are the most important or the most time sensitive or the easiest to do.  Whatever.  You can do three things.   That’s the hack.   A three item to do list.  
 
The trick is  - once you do the three items, repeat the process.   Pick three more items to do and repeat.   It breaks your massive to do list in to manageable chunks.   And let’s be honest – aren’t we all looking for manageable chunks – in almost everything we do?
 
This system is in line with my suggestion of tackling your organizing in your home in 10 or 15 increments.   Don’t overwhelm yourself.   Don’t bite off more than you can chew.  You know your to do’s – whether they are a list of literal to do, or a set of tasks around the house like organizing the junk draw and tackling the closet.   Wouldn’t all those things be easier if they were in smaller tasks?   Start with a three item do list or 10 minutes of organizing.   They can really make a difference in your day. 
 
Did you know that the average American only has about a ½ hour of free time a week?   A week!  No wonder we are putting off things like daily cleaning, making doctor’s appointments,  paying bills or sorting through paperwork.   I truly believe that if we only have 30 minutes a week to do the supurflous tasks around our house like organizing and other to do…then a three item to list is just perfect for accomplishing real results.  And 10 minuets organizing your junk drawer?  Whoa nelly – that will get you so far!
 
Look, I’m a busy mom and you are probably too.   My goal with this suggestion is to help you manage your time and to find some productivity hacks that actually work.   I have tried the three item to do list now for a while and really works.   I feel like I’m more focused and I actually get more done.  The secret is chunks – with chocolate and organizing…the secret is always chunks. 
 

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