How I’m using my To-Do List 911 this summer

I originally created my To-Do List 911 in a frenzy of work-overload panic.  I put 911 in the title because it was all about responding to and conquering a to-do list emergency - more on your to-do list than could possibly be done in a week.  It was designed to slash your overwhelming to-do list in half and help you create an action plan to get the rest done - and it’s great for that!  

But now it’s summer and I’m encountering a whole new to-do list challenge   - it’s not overwhelm, exactly.  It’s more like a lack of focus.  My usual schedule is all out of whack with my daughter out of school and my usual work schedule out the window as I plan around family trips and summer adventures.  I wake up in the morning and think - what do I need to do today?  My mind swirls between client work, packing for the next camping trip, and a laundry list of other things that could/should get done as well.  

The difference with my summer list versus my typical work list is that so much of it is just for me/my family - no one else is holding me accountable.  That spells a recipe for disaster for me as I have trouble prioritizing and executing on tasks that could get done, but don't necessarily have to get done for anyone else.  

My summer challenge is finding focus in the midst of unscheduled time, and getting what needs to be completed while still carving out time for fun.  

I’m finding that my To-Do List 911is super helpful in this chaotic summer time for a few reasons:

First - it helps me group my tasks into different buckets which automatically creates more focus.  With the separate brain dump sheets for each “project” I can make a list of home tasks (pack for camping, grocery shop, amazon returns, etc.), and each of my work projects.  

Next - I’m finding the time estimates super helpful.  When I add time estimates to all of my tasks and add everything up, it becomes super clear to me what I do and do not want to actually work on this week.  Adding up the time estimates makes everything real to me, somehow, and when I see that I’ve given myself 20 hours of home tasks, for instance, I’m able to get real and whittle it down to a more manageable size.  This really helps me prioritize and remove all the non-essential, unimportant tasks and focus on what’s more important.  

Also, grouping the tasks by project (whether home, work, etc.) and putting them on the Weekly Action Plan creates a lot of clarity for me in my day.  Instead of having a mile-long amorphous task list for the week that I’m looking at all the time, I have a small list for each day that’s been edited down to just the time I have available - I know it’s achievable.  

Finally, I love the Ta-Da list!  On hot summer days it’s easy to get to the end of the day and feel like “what did I get done, anyway?” It’s all a bit hazy.  Writing everything on my Ta-Da list gives me a little boost and reminds me that even if I didn’t get everything done, I can still be proud of what I did accomplish.

So if you’re finding it difficult to focus and get anything done during these unstructured summer days, don’t despair - just download my free To-Do List 911. 

You can download it here.

It’s a fun and easy way to create focus and get done exactly what you want to get done this summer - for work and home!  

This should be a fun time of year, filled with relaxing days and just the right amount of work to get done what needs to be done without overloading ourselves.  To-Do List 911 can help you get there so you can enjoy your summer with a minimal amount of stress!