This article offers people to have to lists to look at every morning. While most of us will recognize the first list, the second one will surprise you.
Everyone has a to-do list. Almost no one has a “don’t do” list. A list of stuff you shouldn’t be wasting your time on, but still you find yourself doing every single day.
Why should you have a don’t do list?
Because:
Never before has it been so important to say “No.” No, I’m not going to read that article. No, I’m not going to read that email. No, I’m not going to take that phone call. No, I’m not going to sit through that meeting.
Why is it so hard for people to say no? It’s not only because we are all trying to please everyone else (although that’s a big part for many people). It’s mostly because we always look for the tiny piece of information that will complete the picture.
It’s hard to do because maybe, just maybe, that next piece of information will be the key to our success. But our success actually hinges on the opposite: on our willingness to risk missing some information. Because trying to focus on it all is a risk in itself. We’ll exhaust ourselves. We’ll get confused, nervous, and irritable. And we’ll miss the CEO standing next to us in the elevator.
Two Lists You Should Look at Every Morning http://lifehacker.com/5921433/two-lists-you-should-look-at-every-morning (Via Instapaper)