Hugh’s Blog

Create a STOP DOING LIST

Most of us are pretty good at creating “To Do” lists, but what about a “Stop Doing List” list? What if you decided that once and for all you would stop doing tasks that are low-value, low-return items?

Imagine you are a consultant to yourself; you just spent the day watching yourself in action at work. At the end of the day you are going to present a list of all the things you observed you were doing that were unproductive, energy drains, time wasters, or just dumb habits. Would you be able to create a list like that?

For one week have a note pad on your desk. Catch yourself doing things that you know (in a perfect world) you should not be doing. Make a note of them.
Once you have your “Stop Doing” list, post it on your wall, or in your day timer and make a goal of not repeating these acts for at least one week. Have fun with this.  Create a goal for yourself, have a reward for when you succeed. Tell someone in the office your goal and ask them to support you.

Here are some ideas for your “Stop Doing” list…

Leaving magazines, articles, files, reports or other distractions on your desk when you have no intention of reading them

Parking yourself in front of email all morning

Reading the news in the morning (or anytime for that matter) – why would you want to start your day with bad news?

Finishing articles, magazines, movies or books when the content is of low value

Pretending you have time for needless interruptions by others

Multi-tasking or anything that takes your attention away from the immediate task (or person)

Having endless “To Do” lists or Post-it® notes littering your workspace
Working to perfect letters, emails, or reports when you know that no one is going to care

Procrastinating on your Boulders. Instead work from your Weekly Plan everyday.
 
And if you need more incentive, take this advice from the late philosopher and author Ayn Rand “I’m working to improve my methods, and every hour I save is an hour added to my life.”