Detox Your Day
Do you ever find yourself so bogged down with things to do that
you decide the best plan is to just not do anything at all? A
daunting to-do list can zap your energy because you're not sure
where to start. The solution, says Simon A. Rego, Psy.D., director
of clinical training at the American Institute for Cognitive and
Behavioral Psychology, is to prioritize. "Your daily task list is
hinged on broad goals," he says, "so they cascade out pretty
quickly." Instead, make an ABC List.
- "A" Items: These are the most important things that need to get
done immediately.
- "B" Items: List the tasks that are building in urgency but
aren't quite at A-level yet.
- "C" Items: These can wait - they're on the horizon but don't
have to be done today.
Stay focused by understanding the difference between important and
urgent. If the phone rings while you're doing an "A" item, for
example, "this creates a sense of urgency," says Dr. Rego, "but is
it more important? Unless it's part of the A-list, it's just a
distraction."