What did you complete today?

Well, I want to say THANK YOU to a friend/colleague/client of mine who sent me a GREAT e-mail message (see below).

But first, a bit of background...

I'm a completion junkie. I admit it! At the end of a day, I LOVE to see what's done. I'll look over my calender, review my files as I put them away, even scan my "sent items" in my inbox...not to remind me of anything to do, but just to see what was finished that day.

Last week, I was talking with J. and she said that on her business trip she was a little frustrated because she still had so much to do, I shared with her one of my tricks: The white board pen, on the bathroom mirror...

Here's what J. said:

It worked so well!  I was doing work – it’s just that there’s so much it felt like there was no progress.  By choosing these tasks and completing them.  I can go to bed relaxed. You are the best!

So, what was the secret? Well, I shared something I have done for years (being on the road 240+ nights last year gave me a LOT of these kinds of ideas): The Completion List for the Evening...

When I return to a hotel from work, but before I go to dinner, I look at the bathroom mirror. There, using a white board, dry-erase pen, I make a list of the few things I am bound to complete before going to sleep. Usually, it looks something like:

work out
go to dinner
read one chapter (or more) of book
draft concluding paragraph to next article
pack for flight in am

Don't get me wrong, I've got a LOT more to do than just those things (you should see my projects and actions lists right now! Over 150 items strong...

 

The things I write down on the mirror are the ones I know I'll check off/put a line through before I go to sleep. Most nights, I do more than "just" what's on the mirror. But, it's a great feeling while I'm brushing my teeth to check those things off as "done!"

Whether you make a list, e-mail yourself, leave a voice mail, or whatever...I'd ask you - just for the next 5 nights - to end the day with a little process of acknowledgment. Just remember everything you DID do throughout the day...

Comments

[Dan]

Jason,

What & how do you use your "z Complete" task list?

Thanks