7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Monday Must Get Dones

by DrMeg
5 replies
It's Monday Warriors. What's on your "Must Get Done" list?

I want to share with you a strategy that will help you be more productive.

Instead of a loosy goosy To Do list, on Sunday nights (Monday morning at the latest) make your Must Do List.

The things that go on the list are things that you must get done before next Sunday morning or else............... Fill in the blank.

...or else I can't go to the bar with my gang on Friday night
...or else I can't watch that TV program I want to watch
...or else I can't look myself in the mirror Sat night because I'm ashamed I didn't get those things done

Or my personal favorite:

.....or else I have to tell my daughter why I didn't take action on the tasks that will move our family closer to financial freedom and more time with her....OUCH!

I hate it when I have to tell her that and I'll get everything done on that list just to avoid that depressing report!

Yep, these are behavior modification strategies but because you are a human, if you apply them they'll work and you'll get more productive.

Also, only put 7 things on your list. Another human thing we do is overestimate what we can accomplish in any given 24 hours.

When you put only 7 tasks to accomplish on your Must Do List, then when you get them done before the Saturday night deadline then you can add more Must Do's. You can then start competing with yourself for your personal best "How Many Tasks Did I Get Done This Week" nerd contest!

So put 7 Must Do Tasks on a list and have a super productive, moving toward your goals, week!

Remember an ounce of discipline weighs a lot less than a pound of regret. I don't know who said that but it sounds like Ben Franklin.

Meg
#dones #get it done #goals settings #monday #productivity #success
  • Profile picture of the author Ruth P
    This is a really great idea, though personally I try to think in terms of rewards rather than punishments i.e. I can go to the bar on Friday if I get it done, rather than I can't if I don't get it done. I dunno, just helps for me to stay positive like that!

    But honestly, I always hear about the "must get done" list but for some reason never try it. It sounds like a great strategy.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2806475].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author jointaldc
      Originally Posted by Ruth P View Post

      This is a really great idea, though personally I try to think in terms of rewards rather than punishments i.e. I can go to the bar on Friday if I get it done, rather than I can't if I don't get it done. I dunno, just helps for me to stay positive like that!

      But honestly, I always hear about the "must get done" list but for some reason never try it. It sounds like a great strategy.
      I agree with Meg, but I do the same as Ruth. Instead of consequences, I present myself with rewards if I finish the task, makes me think that there's something at the end of the rainbow
      Signature
      Jointal ---- A CPA network that operates on trust -
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2806506].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Shania
        Great challenge to get things done. I like the response on thinking positively (reward) :-)
        Signature
        Wedding gowns in Kenya
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2806714].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Shania
        Great challenge to get things done. I like the response on thinking positively (reward)
        Signature
        Wedding gowns in Kenya
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2806717].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author DrMeg
          Hi Everybody thanks for the comments!

          I agree about how I would like to think about it in the positive as in "When I get it done then I can..."

          But guess what!

          Over 50 years of behavioral research shows that humans are motivated more by the avoiding a negative consequence rather than working toward a positive reward!! Sad but true!!

          If working toward a positive reward worked as well as avoiding a negative consequence, then there would be no phenomenon known as procrastination!

          One reason the "work toward a positive reward" doesn't work as well is because people put the reward too far away, or if you earn it, the reward isn't as motivating as you thought it would be. Or another way people mess the positive reward approach up is they give it (or a version of it) to themselves even when they don't earn it all the way.

          So to make the strategy more effective putting a painful consequence at the end of the 7 days! Sounds harsh but just this bit of re-framing really makes it work.

          Besides the flip side of avoiding the negative consequence is getting the reward....it's just a mind trick.
          Signature
          Meg McCormick
          The BackLink Lady

          Come read what I'm writing about at HubPages
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2806803].message }}

Trending Topics