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Abstract

vie Madness book for press</li><li>Layout chapter 7 of Lone Ranger book</li><li>Update online portfolio</li><li>Record latest podcast</li></ul>If you compare this to the previous version of my to-do list, what is the main difference?It’s not so much that I’ve written them out, but more with how each line item begins.See it yet?Each action item begins with a verb.Write, send, finish, package, layout, update, and record.<figure id="7a39"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*8DAK5xAkXZC7hBWr"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@willfrancis?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Will Francis</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="7a06">It’s the language that matters.</h1>By altering how I phrase items in my to-do list, I’m calling attention to the action that needs to be taken. I’ve moved from a list of simple things to a list of steps that need to be undertaken and completed.It’s a subtle sort of difference, I grant you, but it’s helped me view my week’s work in a different light. I often avoid using the term “to-do list” now. These days, I tend to refer to it as my “action list.”Crossing off tasks from my action list feels more satisfying now. Acting upon them seems easier. The whole process has become more fulfilling. Even composing my list at the start of the week gets me more in tune with what goals I have lined up.It’s a small hack, but it makes a difference. Any boost in productivity — even a minor one — is a good thing.Try it out and see what happens.</p

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You might be pleasantly surprised.<div id="ac09" class="link-block">

      <a href="https://readmedium.com/8-useful-tips-for-planning-a-freelance-career-2e7a5445b7d3">

        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>8 Useful Tips for Planning a Freelance Career</h2>
            <div><h3>Critical tips for a successful freelance career.</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*vJvUEVH2iba996TH)"></div>
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    </div><div id="f020" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-i-still-use-a-traditional-paper-planner-in-the-electronic-age-21039e64a25f">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Why I Still Use a Traditional Paper Planner In the Electronic Age</h2>
            <div><h3>I keep returning to this for a reason. A few reasons, actually.</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*1Mcq-qOVa83YPZVX)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="25ca"><i>Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my <a href="https://mailchi.mp/5b9666ece8ef/wordsbyjohnsub"></a></i><a href="https://mailchi.mp/5b9666ece8ef/wordsbyjohnsub"><b>Bi-Weekly Word Roundup</b><i></i></a><i> newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.</i></p></article></body>

How To Energize Your Task List For Improved Productivity

Manage your schedule better with a simple perspective shift.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

What’s your to-do list like?

If you’re like me (and why wouldn’t you be?), it’s a shopping list style of brief words — likely abbreviated — outlining tasks that need to be completed by the end of the day or week.

For example, this is what my work to-do list was like prior to me switching things up a bit:

Art long
Verne
Gargdoor Art
Pack MovMad
Ch7 LR
Port
Podcast

It’s a cryptic sort of list unless you live inside my head. From the outside, I can’t imagine anyone would be able to decipher much of it. Someone might be able to guess some of it based on what they know about me, but that’s about it.

My personal to-do list shorthand isn’t the point, though.

Not entirely.

When I check off a task, I know they’ve been completed. But when I look at the list, my list doesn’t tell me what I need to do to complete them.

It’s subtle, but it makes a difference.

This is what that same list would look like now:

Write article for Longmont Magazine
Send edits for Verne book
Finish article on garage door installation
Package Movie Madness book for press
Layout chapter 7 of Lone Ranger book
Update online portfolio
Record latest podcast

If you compare this to the previous version of my to-do list, what is the main difference?

It’s not so much that I’ve written them out, but more with how each line item begins.

See it yet?

Each action item begins with a verb.

Write, send, finish, package, layout, update, and record.

It’s the language that matters.

By altering how I phrase items in my to-do list, I’m calling attention to the action that needs to be taken. I’ve moved from a list of simple things to a list of steps that need to be undertaken and completed.

It’s a subtle sort of difference, I grant you, but it’s helped me view my week’s work in a different light. I often avoid using the term “to-do list” now. These days, I tend to refer to it as my “action list.”

Crossing off tasks from my action list feels more satisfying now. Acting upon them seems easier. The whole process has become more fulfilling. Even composing my list at the start of the week gets me more in tune with what goals I have lined up.

It’s a small hack, but it makes a difference. Any boost in productivity — even a minor one — is a good thing.

Try it out and see what happens.

You might be pleasantly surprised.

8 Useful Tips for Planning a Freelance Career

Critical tips for a successful freelance career.

medium.com

Why I Still Use a Traditional Paper Planner In the Electronic Age

I keep returning to this for a reason. A few reasons, actually.

medium.com

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.