Every person has a different way of getting things done (e.g. Jerry Seinfeld’s Productivity Secret.) My method uses a calendar. It’s simple: Every task is a calendar event with a date, time and duration. Even if it’s something that doesn’t have a specific date and time, you have to put it somewhere in the calendar.
When a task’s time is due, you have three options:
- Do it and be done with it.
- Ignore it, thereby committing not to do it(!)
- Push it forward in time (postpone.)
Obviously when you assign date, time and duration to a task, they have to make sense. For example, if the task requires you to be at home you can’t assign it to a time slot when you’re at work.
This system also allows for continuous tasks, for example if you made a call and someone now needs to call you back – you move the task to a time when that person should have already contacted you. If they didn’t, you act on it. If they did, you’ll be happy that you completed this task already :)
:)