To Do Lists
I just can't get in the habit of writing things down on a "to-do list" and find it difficult to adapt. I know I'm a bit of a procrastinator, but if things always get done on time and are of good quality, I find it hard to change my ways. My work seems to be better when I work under pressure. What difference does it make whether I have free-time now or later?
Focusing on just the week is a great method Tracy. Sometimes we can only project out so far. That's ok. Do what works best for you.
I too like a to do list, but my to do list is what I need to do this week, trying to make a list for everything that needs to be done that day seems to never get finished, In my schedual I have to be able to change things daily (for my students)so it make better sense for me to list what I need to achieve that week.
I hear what you are saying Gary. I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator myself and I do often feel as though I work much better under pressure. Aside from productivity and quality of work though as I get older I can feel that stress (even if I don't think I am stressed) effecting me in other areas of my life (i.e. sleeping, blood pressure, overall tolerance with my family members, etc.). I have made more of an effort as of late to stay more on top of things and try to alleviate some of the unneccessary stressors in my life. This has helped tremendously and honestly the quality of the work is the same.
I love my to-do lists. I prefer the old fashioned method of writing a list on a piece of paper. There is something about physically crossing items off list that I find so gratifying! Having the list in front of me then allows items to be re-prioritized as I go and makes for a less stressful day. Having a mapped-out way to get through the day puts me a in a good mood and helps me stay focused on the tasks at hand.
Working well under pressure is often an inicator of your Insights Color style. So you are . . .?
Stress can definitely keep you up at night John, particularly if you are weighing various tasks to focus on. It's not crazed, instead pretty normal for instructors.
I understand where you're coming from Shannon! I couldn't live without my reminder system and Outlook / data device that supports it.
Between balancing home life, full time career and part time teaching, I would not be able to function without "to do lists." My professional list is actually in the form of my Outlook calandar. Not only can I record deadlines, but I can set periodic reminders right up to the due date, mark items as urgent, save notes, enter recurring tasks, etc. My personal list is saved on my Blackberry calendar. I would be lost without either one of these resources!
I can relate...I, too, can work well under pressure and turn out a good product. The problem is the stress created by the pressure. Its what happens when several things enjoy a #1 priority. I don't like rolling around in bed all night (really doesn't happen all THAT often) thinking about all the things I have to do under pressure that I'll probably do fine on...sounds a bit crazed, doesn't it??? So I try to use to-do lists and work them.
Better if I write down my thoughts immediately in the morning so i feel less anxious as the day goes by
It's really all about your tolerances Gary. If you enjoy a high pressure environment and feel it lends itself well to your productivity, then there is no need to change. But if that environment gets too stressful for you, a list might be effective.
