Many of you may have tried my 1MTD or MYN systems and perhaps gotten behind and maybe even given up on that task list. Don’t worry, it happens. However, I bet you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. And you’re probably reluctant to get started on the old task list because it has hundreds of things in there that you are feeling guilty about and the list is too long.
The fact that you’re not using the list probably means it’s overloaded with “shoulds” that really aren’t that high a priority compared to your current work.
Here’s how to dig out, step by step:
-
In the old 1MTD or MYN list that you are not using anymore, move everything from the high and medium/normal section down to the low priority section. I know, that may feel wrong, but stay with me. If there are a lot of things already in the low section, put these above them.
-
Now, working from your memory only, fill in the now empty high and medium/normal sections. That means anything absolutely due today put in the high section. Anything that is due in the next 10 days or so (but not due today) put in the medium/normal section. In that medium/normal section, if anything has an absolute due date, type it in front of the name of the task like this: DUE Feb 23 Complete Sales Report.
-
Anything in your memory that is due beyond 10 days, put at the top of the low priority section. In MYN you may need to adjust some start dates to force them to the top.
Okay, now you’ve got the main things that are bugging you off your mind and onto a list that you trust.
Next Steps
Next, scan through your recent email and find things that are pretty important, and convert them to tasks into the three list sections as I’ve described above.
Finally, when you have time, go through the old section of the low priority section, (all the things you dragged down there in step 1 above) and figure out if there’s some things that ought to be moved back up into the high or medium/normal sections, per the rules above.
Now work your list! And commit to yourself to now stay ahead of this. One of the main things that helps you do that is to make sure you stick with the rules of the system that I have at these links, they’re very simple.
Rules 1: How often to review each section
Rules 2: Limit on how many tasks in each section
That’s it!
Michael
I think it’s great that you do these followups, Michael. These steps are very useful and make perfect sense!
Brilliant post. Loved the MYN idea when i first started but have definitely of recent fallen off the rails. I was recently looking for other task management options. This post gave me the boost I need to get back into it. Off to find my book again.. arghh. Hope I have it still?
I am a new adopter of you MYN system and I wish I would’ve found it much sooner. I’m struggling with being forced to use two lists and am wondering your thoughts.
Work doesn’t take kindly to fowarding internal emails to external systems. Our Windows PCs are quite locked down so installing apps is not an option. I’ve taken time to configure the heck out of Outlook so I can keep my work task list there and I use Toodledo for everything else. By the way your advice on this post is quite applicable to an overwhelming personal task list.
What advice or training material do you have for people with predicament?
Hi Leonel, sorry for my slow reply. I generally recommend one tasks list shared across work and personal. But that means 1) you can open your work Outlook account at home to see the list and 2) you might need to forward personal emails to it for converting to tasks, would that work? Or convert them by hand. Hopefully you can use TaskTask to see your work tasks on an iPhone or Nine on Android? (see https://www.michaellinenberger.com/blog/nine-outlook-for-android/)
If for some reason you can’t merge into one list, and still need two task lists, it sounds like you are using Toodledo for personal which is good. Can’t you bring Toodledo up in a web browser at work?
Michael
In today’s fast-paced work environment, it’s common to feel overwhelmed by tasks and deadlines. On Demand can be a valuable resource in helping individuals navigate through these challenges. Their expertise offers solutions that can streamline workflows and optimize productivity. By leveraging On Demand’s services, individuals can implement efficient document management systems, automate repetitive tasks, and improve collaboration. This can greatly alleviate the burden of an overwhelmed workday and allow individuals to regain focus and accomplish their goals.