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Start your task list with the least important task

joheine says:
Some days I feel that it is difficult to get started on my way too long task list. To get the ball rolling I sometimes start with the smallest and least important task. Although it sounds counterproductive, it seems to improve my efficiency. Once you get going, you usually feel energetic enough to approach the bigger tasks.

There is no view for this in RTM. You just have to start at the bottom of your daily list if you sort your tasks after priority.
Posted at 9:03am on June 19, 2010
folke1883 says:
Yeah. I do that too.

A useful variation of this method is to define a super-tiny first-of-all sub-task from one of the bigger tasks. This can be an entirely mental process, or the sub-task can be phrased into words and put on the list.

This has analogies to both DIT ("Get the file out") and GTD ("next action") but works as a standalone trick, too. I guess the main thing is to get a manageble chunk of work to begin with, especially when energy or motivation is low.
Posted 13 years ago
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