“How was your day?” my wife, Eleanor, asked me one night.
Your To-Do List Is, in Fact, Too Long
Cut it down to one line.
August 11, 2020
Summary.
Many of us end every day feeling disappointed that we didn’t accomplish as much as we wanted to do. Trying harder, long to-do lists, and beating ourselves up are common approaches that yield disappointing results. We don’t need longer lists or new apps or revamped calendar systems. The author recommends picking one task and focusing on just that one thing until it’s completed. A to-do list with just one task on it reflects a strategic and intentional choice about what you will do next, and continue to focus on until it’s done. It might feel silly, but writing that one thing down on its own list is the key—it makes it a commitment that you’re far more likely to follow through on. Make meaningful progress, one task at a time.
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New!
HBR Learning
Time Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Time Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Make smarter, more purposeful choices about how you spend your day.