Up Against The Clock: How You Can Double Your Time?. Ronald C. Mendlin

       To-be-read pile.

       To-be-completed today pile.

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       Just remember: The fewer piles the better!

       LISTS

      Debra: “During the course of a day, I’ll think of things to do, and I shove little notes in my pocket all day long. At the end of the day, I go through my pockets. A lot of stuff that seemed important when it occurred to me gets thrown away, but a few things go on my to-do list for the next day.”

      Lists can be helpful—I recommend them for particular uses and depending on your style and needs. It’s important to work with lists in a way that proves useful to you over time. For example, some authorities discourage the accumulation of list-like notes on small scraps of paper, but Debra is on her feet most of the day, so the “scraps method” works for her.

      One of the downsides of lists is that you can wind up with too many of them if you’re not careful, especially if you don’t regularly throw away, combine, or update your lists. You could even wind up with a pile of lists on your desk! Make sure you don’t overload any particular list. You don’t want to feel overwhelmed by the sight of any list.

      Milt Reiterman, who served as Deputy Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District, says, “I keep meticulous lists. But a list is only as good as it can actually serve you in relationship to meeting your objectives. Your list shouldn’t dictate things to you, because sometimes you have to drop things off the list. A list is only one factor in time management; a list is not an end in itself.”

       LETTING GO OF LISTS

       List making is an ongoing activity. Which of the following types of lists on the facing page do you keep? Which should you keep that you currently do not? Which ones could you let go of?

      Lists are an oddly personal organizing tool. It is unlikely that any two people, even if they hold identical jobs, should be keeping the exact same lists. However, what is universally true is that lists should be constantly updated because lists, like newspapers, become outdated quickly.

USED	TYPE OF LIST	REASONS FOR STARTING OR STOPPING USING LIST (E.G. HELPS ME REMEMBER, DON’T REALLY NEED, ETC.).
	Daily to-do list
	List of thngs to accomplish before lunch, or in the next hour
	Checklist of small steps required to accomplish a routine task
	List of people to call
	Monthly goals list
	Yearly goals list
	List of tasks or projects ranked in order of priority or due date
	Major project list

       CALENDARS

      Calendars are another outstanding organizational tool and are somewhat more fixed than lists. You can keep a wall calendar or a pocket appointment calendar, or both, depending on what suits you. Some people also find it useful to keep a personal calendar at home, on which to record planned activities for the family. Unless you have an extraordinary memory, you probably need at least one calendar in your life. Things to note on your calendar include:

       Business appointments

       Personal appointments

       Doctor and dental appointments

       Phone numbers of the people with whom you have appointments

       Deadlines

       Planned activities

       Meeting dates and times

       Reminders to follow up on contacts or projects

      In selecting a portable appointment calendar, make sure that it gives you enough space to write all you need, that it’s easy to carry, and that it shows you at a glance what you need to see—be it each day, week, or month.

       FILING SYSTEM

      A good filing system is a joy, because it allows you to know exactly where to find what you need when you need it. But a filing system cannot be as personal as a list or calendar, because other people may also need to access your files, either now or in the future.

      The following simple principles can help to streamline just about any filing system.