LIST ALL TO-DO ITEMS.

• Create a single list that contains all of your To-Do items. Include large projects, small tasks, urgent “must-do now” items as well as the “should-dos” that will help you achieve your long-term goals. Having all of your to-dos on one master list ensures that nothing gets forgotten.
• No matter how a task originates; from phone calls, in meetings, in your e-mail or in-basket, make sure it gets added to your master To-Do list.

RANK BY IMPORTANCE.

• Evaluate the importance of each task. Does it have a deadline? Will it help achieve your goals? What are the consequences if you don’t do it right away? Don’t confuse urgency with importance.
• Separate the To-Do Now items from the To-Do Later items.
• Make a short list of your 10 most important To-Do Now tasks. List them in their order of priority.
• Use a 10-Pocket Project Organizer to hold the paperwork for your top ten To-Do Now tasks. Place the highest priority material in the number 1 tabbed divider, followed by the second priority in tab 2, etc. Keep the Organizer on your desktop where you can reach it easily.

RE-EVALUATE DAILY.

• Work on tasks in the order that you ranked them in the 10-Pocket Project Organizer.
• Knock off the easy items on your list as soon as possible to get them out of the way.
• Plan to do difficult tasks when you are most alert and can focus on them for longer periods of time.
• Evaluate unplanned tasks as they occur. Add them to your master To-Do list.
• Each day, review your master To-Do list. Make a new short list of To-Do Now tasks and reprioritize the material in your Organizer.

1. 10-Pocket Project Organizer