Obligations & Options — This Separation Will Make Your To-Do List Invincible To Overload (Barbell #4)

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Obligations and options are treated completely separately in your task manager.

Therefore, the distinction between them must be absolutely clear. In your task manager, you want to create two separate lists. The first one is called options, and the second is obligations.

You create a new list in Google Tasks by simply clicking on “+New list” and giving it a name.

What are Obligations?

Obligations are the small tasks that you must do, or you will experience unwanted consequences. It could be work-related or other commitments that you cannot drop on the spot. You decide what unwanted consequences mean for you, but if you do not want them, then they are obligations.

Your obligations list is tightly correlated with your calendar since the list represents the smaller tasks in one session. The calendar is enough for larger obligations such as work time or other regular activities.

Here is how you input obligations:

• In the obligations list on your task manager, you add a new task with a name.
• Then click on the date icon (see picture below) and select the latest possible date you can do it (to avoid procrastination). Then confirm.

• In your calendar, input an event on the same date called Obligations (or no name at all). Decide the time of the day you will do it and then confirm.

Then you are done. You also want to sort the obligations list by date by clicking the three dots on Google Tasks. You will only look at your obligations once it is time on your calendar.

What are Options?

There are many actions and activities that are not mandatory, but you might want to do them at some point. In other words, there will be no unwanted consequences if you do not do them. Everything that is not an obligation but you might want to do at some point is an option.

You can do or not do these tasks depending on your feeling at the moment. They are just suggestions and choices that give you the freedom to explore and experiment, wander around and tinker.

The options list contains all activities you might want to do whenever there is no event on the calendar. You add a new task straight away to the options list whenever you think about it. If you have finished or do not want to do them anymore, check them off.

Because it is free time, you do not even need to check the options list if you do not feel like it. It is just there if you want to evaluate what you can do at any moment quickly.

Below is an example of the most recent items on my options list. I can choose to do them or not do them, depending on how I feel.

How to distinguish obligations and options

The only question you ask yourself is the following:

Will there be too many unwanted consequences if I DO NOT complete this task?

If yes, treat it as an obligation. If not, it is an option.

Note as well that the tasks can shift between being obligations and options. If an option suddenly becomes mandatory, you make it an obligation. If an obligation is no longer important to you, you either check it off or leave it as an option.

How you become invincible to overload

In 24 hours a day, you can only commit to so much. This is why you should commit to as few obligations as you possibly can. The obligations you have should reflect your highest priorities.

In contrast, you want as many options as possible. More options mean more freedom since you do not need to commit to each of them. The more choices you have, the better are the chances that you will do the right one, depending on your current feelings.

You become invincible and antifragile by limiting your obligations and expanding your options. No overwhelm can ever stop you since you can say no to obligations while keeping more doors open. Thus, the more tasks you get bombarded with, the more freedom and happiness you will experience.

Therefore, as long as you commit to less but seek more choices, you can thrive in this unpredictable world. You adjust to the present, do what is best in front of you and tinker away, seeing results you could not even imagine before.

If you like this article series, you will enjoy the full e-book (a full expansion on how to use the Barbell System in your daily life). Click here to learn more.

Originally published on my website The Total Living.

Click here to read Barbell #5 (How The Barbell System Checks The 9 Requirements For The Perfect Productivity System, Members Only)