I learned about the Things To Do list from one of my team leaders when I was a programmer back in the late 60s. It was a way of organizing work that was going to take months to complete and doing it in a way that nothing got forgotten. The TTD was a simple sheet of paper on which the week’s expected products were listed. As one was completed, I drew a line through it. It was a simple yet effective organizing device. Forty days later, Office Depot was selling daily planners.
I abandoned the TTD once I embarked on my career in Medicine. I simply didn’t need a task queue since the day’s activities were all patient appointments and hospital visits. Later, working in administrative roles, I dusted off my TTD although now I kept it in a WORD document rather than a sheet of paper. I think the TTD list helped me to stay focused.
In retirement, I have used a TTD on my iPhone but few, if any, tasks on the TTD list except for calendar items like appointments or social commitments have hard deadlines or much urgency. Today, I decided to knock some items off the list.
- Do four loads of laundry.
- Run the robot wet mop in the foyer and bathrooms.
- Replace the rotary brush in the Roomba Vaccuum.
- Replace the back-up battery for the garage door lift.
- Unload the dishwasher.
- Make dinner.
I’m all caught up now. I think I may take the day off tomorrow.