Tweak Your To-Do List to Really Get Things Done

January 29, 2014 Deciding in advance when and where you will complete a task can double or triple your chances of actually doing it. Add a specific when and where to each task on your list. For example, “Call Bob” becomes “Tuesday after lunch, I’ll call Bob from my desk.” By creating a specific plan for calling Bob, you can seize the critical moment and make the call, even when you’re busy doing other things. You’ve already done the hard work of deciding what to do — now you can execute the plan without consciously thinking about it.  Adapted from the HBR Guide to Managing Stress at Work.