What’s the Most Important Thing on Your “To Do” List?

What’s the Most Important Thing on Your “To Do” List?

THINKING: Years ago, when I was a partner in a law firm, I received a phone call from a client. “Lynne,” he said, “I have a problem with your bill.” These are not words that any attorney ever wants to hear from a client. “OK,” I gulped, expecting the worst.

“I love all the detail, the codes, 0.3 hours for this activity, 0.2 for that, but you leave out the most important thing that I pay you for. THINKING! You never have thinking on the time you spend on my issues.”

What Should You Do?

TIME FOR WHAT’S IMPORTANT: Most of us have work that requires thought yet we may fail to carve out time for that activity. If you’re like me, you start every week with a “to-do” list that’s so long you just want to take a nap after completing the inventory. Here’s an ideal schedule suggestion that works for me:

1. I try to start my days with exercise and meditation, since I can’t think, work, or play well unless I’m healthy. Luckily, I live in Boulder where I can hike on a trail right outside my door or swim year-round in a saltwater pool at my athletic club.
2. After raising my spirits and adjusting my attitude with those activities, I land in the office and try to think first: before email, phone, or the “to-do” list. Thinking may also involve writing projects such as these Monday Memos, a book I’m working on, a new workshop, or an investigation report.
3. Next, I do look at emails and return phone calls if they are from clients or some other urgent matter, but I try to limit these kinds of activities to one hour or less. No, I do not check out social media except for LinkedIn postings once a week.
4. The next block of two to three hours involves investigation interviews, coaching calls, or webinars.

5.  Lastly, I try to plow through the endless list of what my assistant calls “nits”: scheduling appointments, filling out forms, paying bills, and the like. I limit this activity to one to two hours, or I feel drained of all sanity and energy.

For more ideas on how to prioritize your time and energy go to www.workplacesthatwork.com.

Have you tried the tool of daily questions? Contact us at: 303-216-1020 or Lynne@workplacesthatwork.com