Seven Steps to Fixing Stalled To-Do Tasks

You need to understand my to-do list process before you read these steps. I strive for a daily inbox-zero task system, which means I can scrub the complete list in less than 10 minutes. The size of individual entries varies. Most can be completed in one work session, but others are project-like tasks where the to-do is the next logical step.

The never-ending question you must ask regarding whatever productivity system you’ve built is, “Does this system make you more productive?”

My first warning sign of being unproductive is when I sense I’m rescheduling more tasks than I’m completing. When I enter this state, I walk through the following list in my head for EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON MY TODAY’S LIST.

Ask. Am I going to do this? Ask again if this is the 10th time you’ve deferred this task.

Ask. Why is this important? Or why does this exist? What problem am I trying to solve?

Ask. If I put it in the future, how guilty will I feel?

Ask. What significant consequence occurs if I don’t complete this task?

Discern. How many times have I punted this?

Edit. Rewrite the task to describe the task in terms of the next achievable step.

(Last resort) Mark it complete. Don’t think. Do.

DO NOT add tags, create projects, or create other to-do infrastructure to manage your to-dos better. This is procrastination disguised as productivity.