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A task list should enhance your productivity by offloading bookkeeping. That's it. If you need people to yell at you (as the OP says) to determine priority, you
by rw 16y ago
A task list should enhance your productivity by offloading bookkeeping. That's it. If you need people to yell at you (as the OP says) to determine priority, you are probably working in a painful and interrupt-driven way.
Here's my method (for writing software):
1) Blank sheet of paper (8am).
2) Figure out one thing to do, and write it down on just one line.
3) Finish that thing.
4) Check that item off, and write down the next task *before you put down your pen*.
5) Goto 3.
This is how I stay focused without trying to forecast too far into the future.
- DFectuoso 16y agoThis is pretty much my routine, except I have an extra step: While I am working on that thing, if I find a really important thing that needs to be taken care of, I write it down as the next task. That way if anyone interrupts me or if I find a important refactoring or think of something important I get to remember it (and do it) without being distracted at that moment.