Most of us have a running TO DO list of things we
need to get done. These TO DOs tend to be little reminders—water the plants, pick up the prescription, make the grocery list, etc.; tasks that are easily crossed off. There are usually medium and large jobs mixed into the list, too.
Certainly, crossing off completed tasks is really good, especially
if you manage to cross off several in one day.
But have you noticed that there is always something else to take their place? You cross three things off, and you add three or more things
right back on.
That's just life. There are always TO DOs that need to be handled. Still, this can be de-motivating. And when you lose momentum, it's easy to allow some tasks to linger on
the list “until you get around to them.”
If you're losing your motivation due to your never-ending TO DO list, try the “Accomplished List Method.” Here's how it works.
No, you don't get to throw your current TO DO list out the window. (Smile.) You make a NEW list and write Accomplished at the top of that list. Then you make 7 columns, one for each day of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.)
Each day, choose ONE task from your current TO DO list that is a task that's a bit more involved than watering your houseplants. For me, it needs to be a task of at least five or ten minutes or more that makes a "visible
difference."
A "visible difference" means you can look at it and say, "wow, that looks better."
Some examples might be decluttering the space under the kitchen sink, dismantling (and filing or recycling) a pile of papers on your kitchen counter, or cleaning out the inside of the fridge.
When your task is chosen, get that task done...start to finish. Then, write, "I organized a shelf in the pantry (or whatever you did) on your Accomplished List under the appropriate day of the week.
When the week is over, you'll end up with 7 "wow, that looks better" areas and a list on which EVERYTHING is done!
Your Accomplished List serves as motivation to do at least one daily, noticeably visible, decluttering/organizing/cleaning project. It’s a personal challenge that you CAN do and feel wonderful about.
