Today I came across a gem of a time management tip. It came from a blog post titled My Best Tip For Time Strategy.
The tip is in response to the question:
“What’s your best tip for being effective . . . having more time . . . getting more sh*t done?”
The answer… Designate one goal each day as the MOST IMPORTANT, or as the author calls it CRUCIAL.
This is a solid tip that I often use when I’m in a time management rut. However, in this particular blog post the author failed to provide evidence on why identifying a “crucial” goal each day makes you more effective and helps you get more sh*t done.
I’m no time management expert, but my personal experience with this strategy may provide you some insight into why this works.
As I stated in a previous post, to-do list create stress. For me, it seems like the more items I have on the list, the less I get done. But when I circle the one item that’s the “crucial” item of the day, it has the opposite effect. I get more done.
I get more done because I feel as if the pressure is off. No matter what happens from that point forward, the day is now a productive day. On top of that, I now have real momentum. I just successfully completed a “crucial” task and that momentum carries me through the day.
In short, this strategy is more of a momentum placebo than some magical time management pill. Each of our brain’s work differently. In my case, a momentum placebo is just what the doctor ordered.
What do you think? Have you ever tried this time management strategy? Did it work for you?