Make Your Daily List

When you are ready to go to bed at night, do you want to feel like you have accomplished something today? Then make your daily list!

Each morning take 10-15 minutes to make your daily list of EVERYTHING you want to do that day. From "get out of bed", "brush my teeth", and "get dressed" to send that email to so-and-so.

You will be amazed at how you will feel seeing all those items checked off before you go to bed!

Anyone who is familiar with the Franklin/Covey Time Management system understands the ABC system. You make your daily list of tasks for the day then itemize them by "must-do's", "should-do's", and "like-to-do's". Then you rank them as A, B, or C, respectively. Then you take it further and assign numbers to each category by what your priorities are. A1 is the most important thing you must do that day, B1 is the most important thing you should do that day, C1, et cetera.

Your immediate goal is to accomplish all of your A items, in order, if possible. As your day goes on, you try to squeeze in your B items, in order, if possible. Then, in your spare moments (if there is such a thing!), you pop in a "C" or two.

Sometimes you cannot get everything done. Heck, if you are like me, most of the time you cannot get everything done. But, when you look back at the day, you can look at all the things you did get done and fell good about it! (Don't beat yourself up for the things you did not get done.)

That is why it is important to include everything that you can when you make your daily list. When you can look back at the day and see a lot of check marks, you will feel a much better sense of accomplishment!

A typical start for me:

A1 Get out of bed
A2 go to the bathroom
A3 get dressed
A4 make my daily list
A5 shave
A6 shower
A7 eat breakfast
A8 take vitamins
A9 brush teeth...

When you can start your day with those items already checked off, it helps set up a mood of accomplishing your tasks for the rest of the day! Then when you are ready to go to bed you can see not only those, but everything else that you have accomplished for the day. So make your daily list!

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