Some days I feel like a firefighter. I spend my day putting out fires. Whatever comes in hot gets my attention.
Those hot things are usually errands I run, emails or phone calls I return, and chores I do.
And, at the end of the day, I look back and haven’t spent any time progressing on my goals, enjoying some self-care, or working on my relationships.
I hate that feeling.
You know… the feeling that the days are flying by and you aren’t really making the most of them.
I wanted and needed that to change, which is why I committed to creating a daily top 3 list at the beginning of the year. This is the same technique that Day Designer uses in their planners.
So what is this magical top 3 list?
- I break my big goals and projects down into bite-sized, 15-minute tasks like I talked about in this post about shattering your goals. (If you need help breaking your goals into small bites, this printable from Paper and Landscapes is what I used to list all of my small tasks.)
- Each Sunday, I choose what small tasks I will focus on that week. I may pick 3-6 things depending on how busy that week will be and how difficult the tasks are.
- At the end of each day, I plan everything I need to do the following day.
First, I write down any meetings or appointments, and then I write down the top 3 tasks I want to complete that day. (If you aren’t a planner gal like I am, you can always log your top 3 in a task app or calendar.)
I try to make sure at least one of those tasks is something from the list I made in step 2. Although I would like to devote my entire top 3 to goal-related tasks, that just isn’t realistic for me. Sometimes I have to include to-dos like meal prep or work projects in my top 3 list.
Tasks I Try Not to Include in My Top 3 List
Like I said, sometimes I can’t avoid it, but when life allows, I try not to include these types of to-dos in my top 3 list:
- Chores like laundry, cleaning or cooking dinner
- Making phone calls or responding to emails
- Paying bills or doing regular errands like going to the grocery
- Tasks not connected to a larger project or goal
Some of these things may need to be done, but they don’t have to be the first things I focus on each day.
Tips for Tackling Your Top 3
- Try to tackle your top 3 first thing in the morning, so you don’t get distracted by emails, social media or daily chores. In fact, kudos to you if you wait to check email or get on social media until these 3 things are complete.
- Start with the easiest task first to gain momentum and motivation.
- Use time blocking to note on your calendar when you will work on your 3 tasks.
- Reward yourself for completing your top 3 list by doing something you love like reading for 15 minutes, having a cup of tea or coffee on the porch or taking a bath.
Starting with your top 3 list each day can be a powerful addition to your morning routine. If you don’t already have a morning routine, check out my free, 5-day audio course called Design Your Own Morning Routine.
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