پیشگفتار

Foreword

The to-do list is one of the simplest task management systems in use today. Yet it continues to frustrate millions of people. You may be one of them.

First, it’s not your fault. Few people receive formal training on how to create effective to-do lists. It’s rarely taught in school. And by the time most of us enter the workplace, we’ve adopted a poor, ineffective approach to getting things done.

Second, without solid training, you’re likely using a task management method that’s sabotaging your ability to complete tasks. I call this the “productivity paradox,” which we’ll discuss in detail in a few moments.

The results are catastrophic.

Without a proper strategy to manage tasks, our days spiral out of control. Our stress levels skyrocket as high-priority items linger past their deadlines. Meanwhile, a constant stream of new tasks comes in and demands our attention. We begin to feel overwhelmed as our to-do lists grow past the point where we can reasonably expect to get everything done.

That’s life for millions of people.

It’s the reason I wrote this action guide, To-Do List Formula: A Stress-Guide To Creating To-Do Lists That Work! I’m going to show you how to manage tasks and create to-do lists that help you to get your important work done. This single skill will cause much of the stress you’re feeling to evaporate.

To-Do List Formula is a short book designed to help you take action as quickly as possible. That’s important. You’re reading it because you feel swamped, buried under a mountain of tasks, projects, and responsibilities. The system I’m going to outline for you will show you how to regain control of your workday and stay ahead of the curve.

This action guide isn’t meant to be skimmed and shelved. It’s meant to be read and applied. The good news is that the material has been written and organized in a way that makes it easy to read through it quickly. You can also choose to read only the sections you feel are important to you.

Application of the material is up to you.

The title of this book, To-Do List Formula, shouldn’t be taken to imply that a single, perfect task management approach will work for everyone. On the contrary, the goal is to identify the approach that best complements your personal work process.

To that end, I’ll describe several to-do list systems in use today. Each one has useful features as well as noteworthy flaws. After we discuss these systems, I’ll show you how to create effective lists. I’ll take you through the process, step by step.

Toward the end of this action guide we’ll talk about how to keep the machine well-oiled so it continues to work flawlessly for you day after day. I encourage you to adopt the tactics that work for you and abandon the rest.

As I’ve highlighted in my other books, you’re the captain of your ship. I’ll provide the map and make actionable recommendations. You plot the course.

One last note…don’t be intimidated by this book’s table of contents. I’ve organized this material so you can easily find the sections that will deliver the greatest impact in your life. You don’t have to read them all if you don’t want to. Read the ones that interest you now and save the others for later.

Having said that, if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed, I recommend you read this action guide from beginning to end. You’ll learn why your current approach to task management is failing. You’ll also discover the changes you need to make to meet your deadlines, lower your stress, and find more joy in your daily experience.

By the time you finish reading To-Do List Formula: A Stress-Free Guide To Creating To-Do Lists That Work!, you’ll know how to create task lists that do more than just display action items. They’ll actually help you to get things done. More to the point, they’ll help you to get the important things done. That could mean the difference between struggling with chronic stress and self-guilt and enjoying a relaxed, pressure-free workweek.

You’re about to learn a system that will revolutionize how you approach your work, both at the office and at home.

Ready to get started? If so, let’s jump in.