For as long as I can remember I’ve been a list maker.  Journals, agendas, Moleskines and Ecosystems rule my day, my week and my month.  I love everything about these little books … the paper, the covers and all the assorted tools, pens and pencils that go into creating the dairies of my life.

My “To-Do” list has been an important part of keeping me organized and on track but several months ago I looked at my list and it was just sad, “There’s no way I’ll finish all this.” The truly self defeating part of the whole thing was that I knew once I checked off one task it would only be replaced by two or three more.  This method was flawed and completely unsatisfactory.  So how does one change this seemingly fruitless situation?

An epiphany.  Ditch the To-Do list and replace it (because once a list maker always a list maker) with the Done-List.  Whoa … well, that felt much better.  Now I create lists of things I’ve completed throughout the day and at the end of the week I have a nice compilation of accomplishments.  I keep hours logged for writing, client work, emails responded to, paperwork I’ve done, designs and projects started or completed.  I’ve also observed that if my Done-List isn’t quite long enough that I need to kick it up a notch and get busy.  The same holds true in reverse and if I see I’ve completed 20 tasks by noon, I can entertain the notion of taking a little break.  This works for me. Everyday I have a good idea of what my priorities are anyway, so why focus on all that other stuff which only clutters up my brain and my life and just makes me feel like a loser because I haven’t accomplished enough.  Give it a try and let me know if the Done-List works for you.