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Last week I wrote about how to say no and have more time for your passions. One of the things I mentioned that could help you manage your time better was creating what I call a TO-DON’T list.
Perhaps you’re one of those people who always make to-do lists and relish the feeling of checking off each item.
But to be successful and less stressed in our day-to-day lives, sometimes we need a TO-DON’T list.
I use a paper calendar called a Passion Planner which already comes with a section blocked off for each month where you can add “not-to-do” items in addition to your to-do items.
What Is a TO-DON’T List?
A TO-DON’T list has on it those things we shouldn’t waste our time and energy doing.
It’s probably the harder of the two types of lists to follow since most items are ones we have to remember time and time again not to do. We can’t just not do it once and check it off. We have to refer back to it, remember it, and develop it as a habit.
This can also take a lot of energy.
But, if you spend your energy working on your TO-DON’T list, you’ll save more energy in the long-run.
Below is an example of a TO-DON’T list. It’s my own personal TO-DON’T list for 2020.
Feel free to personalize it for yourself so you can de-stress and focus your energies on your personal and professional goals.
My TO-DON’T List:
- Spend time on meaningless things that distract me from my goals, like scrolling through my phone.
- Forget to maintain personal and professional relationships.
- Choose work projects which don’t support my company’s mission.
- Censor myself too much on my blog. I want to be more transparent so others can learn from my experiences instead of worrying they will think I’m talking too much about myself.
- Do anything that doesn’t support or line up with my personal mission statement.
Do you have a personal mission statement? If not, add this to your to-do list! It can serve as the basis for helping you make difficult choices when faced with different opportunities.
You can learn how to come up with your own personal mission statement in my book Personal Branding: Why You Need to Know What Makes You YOUnique and AWEthentic.
Your TO-DON’T List
What do you need to add to your own TO-DON’T list?
Perhaps you don’t need to continue feeling stuck in your current job.
Maybe you don’t need to keep putting off pursuing your passions or letting lack of confidence stand in your way.
Or, you don’t need to put off getting help in these areas any longer.
If this is the case for you, add to your to-do list, “Fill out the paNASH intake form.” It’s a simple item you can check off your list to get you started on a brighter future!
Related post:
How to Say No and Have More Time For Your Passions
