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So, what method of task keeping is best for each learning type? Well, let’s start by looking at the different learning types.

• Visual – Learn best by seeing or reading.
• Auditory – Learn best by hearing.
• Kinesthetic or Tactile – Learn best by doing.

You probably learn by at least two of these three methods, but one will probably work a little bit better. So, let’s break it down into what this means for your task list.

Visual
If you’re a Visual Learner, classic to-do lists might work just fine for you. For projects, another option is to create a mind map. Start with the end result of the project in the middle and then write in the supporting goals or tasks around it (connecting with a line). If the supporting goal has it’s own set of tasks then write those around it (again, connecting with a line).

Auditory
An Auditory Learner will want to hear their task list. You’ll still want to write your tasks down and create a daily task list. However, after you’ve created it, record yourself reading your task list. Listen to it before you leave work for the day and again first thing in the morning. For projects, you can record your goal and supporting goals and tasks (saying them out loud will help you process it) and then create your task list from that recording later. I have friends that do some of their best thinking alone in the car and record their new ideas while driving, They use a hands free option of course!

Kinesthetic or Tactile
Classic to-do lists might work for you if you’re a Kinesthetic or Tactile Learner. However, you probably want to be able to touch each item in some way. Try writing each task on a small sticky note. That will allow you to touch each item and arrange them however you want. Or you could write each task on a small index card and arrange those. For projects, the same sticky note or index card method will work well.

Do you know what kind of learner you are? I’d love to know!

I’ve been thinking about why it can be hard to keep an up to date task list. Is it finding the right system? Hanging out with other people who create and keep up with task lists? Is it making the time each day and week to keep current with the daily tasks as well as the steps for that big goal or project?

All those things play a part and can help or hinder your efforts to stay on top of your tasks. However, the more I think of it the root of the issue is habits.

In my previous job I carefully tracked my time. I had to – my time was billable. As a result, I felt that as much time as possible should spent doing billable work. I didn’t want to spend time creating task lists. I’d figure out the next thing I needed to be working on when I finished the current task. Well, that didn’t always work out too well for me. Sometimes I’d completely forget about something or spend a lot of time sorting through things trying to remember or decide what to do next.

Productive, that’s always the goal – right? It’s not productive to sit and look at all the things you could be doing. It is productive to jump into a task and get it completed, or at least make progress. You might not really believe that, but look at your day – isn’t that what your doing by not creating some sort of plan for your day?

This is where habits come in. When something is a habit, you do it without thinking too much about it. It’s something you just do. Like brushing your teeth every night.

I recommend creating the next day’s task list the night before and then reviewing it first thing in the morning. This accomplishes two things. (1) When you create your list at the end of the day your work is still fresh in your mind. If you wait until the morning that task that was really important yesterday might be forgotten. (2) Reviewing your list first thing in the morning gives you a nice snapshot of your day.

Is this a habit that would be helpful to you? If so, try it out for a week and see how things go. If not, what other habits around staying on top of your tasks do you want to create?

Here’s the scene: you’re at your computer and you know what you want to work on next and you’re going to start it when you notice you have new email! Well, better go and check that. Oh, and it’s something you can handle now – so you do. And then you remember something you should check on… Pretty soon an hour (or two) has gone by and now you’re trying to figure out what it was you were originally going to work on.

Sound familiar? Everybody has had days like this. Jumping from one thing to another and getting things done, but they aren’t the things that you wanted to get done. And they might not be the things that are really important to get done.

So, how do we avoid this all too common situation? Well, I have a few tips.

1. Get more sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep we have problems focusing and our overall productivity goes down – basically we have problems concentrating.
2. Check email only at certain times. Pick two or three times throughout your day to check your email and stick to it!
3. Set a time limit. When you do check your email, decide how long you’re going to spend with it. Set a timer if you want to, it will help you stay on track.
4. Set up filters. Set up filters that send newsletters or unimportant emails into a different folder. Generally newsletters come from a specific address, making them easy to sort out. Also, set up a time at the end of the week to go through this folder (give yourself a time limit). Anything that you don’t have time for, delete! And you’ll probably notice two things (1) you’re regularly deleting the emails from the same person/company each week or (2) you have no idea who this person/company is. In either case, you can unsubscribe from their list.
5. Close your email program. The emails will still be there later, I promise. I knowthis one can be hard! But it makes it a little harder to just go and check your email quickly – which can be just enough to discourage a quick email check.

Try one of these tips and let me know your results!