Comments on: Monday Tip: Change your to-do list to a could-do list

By: The could-do list | Freak Revolution

The could-do list | Freak Revolution — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:30:51 +0000

[...] Oh, hey, look at this. I’m not the first one to come up with the idea of a “could-do” list, but they suggest simply renaming all your “to-do” items to “could-do”. [...]

By: How To Tweak Your To-Dos: 5 Tips For Better Task Lists - MindTWEAKS - fixing the world, one mind at a time

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:38:59 +0000

[...] Credit to Hilda Carroll via Alexander Kjerulf at Positive Sharing [...]

By: Howie

Howie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:16:18 +0000

That’s right. Adding pressure to our task will only cause some troubles. It should be something that we know we can achieve and not those task that can be affected by altering some of our tasks.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:09:28 +0000

I agree. With too much pressure brought about by our to do list, we often forget about the real reason why we are doing it. There should be some space for us to think about it.

By: Jean Browman

Jean Browman — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:58:45 +0000

I’ve been doing that for years, only I call it my “Possibility List.” It really does relieve a lot of pressure. I agree that breaking things down into small tasks is an essential part of the process. Even if if some of the tasks are really important, they still get listed as a “possibility.” I choose to do them because of the internal reward. I think of the relief I will feel when they’re done and I don’t have to look at them on the list any more. But I still have the freedom to choose. I’m not a slave.

By: links for 2007-07-23

links for 2007-07-23 — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:19:37 +0000

[...] Monday Tip: Change your to-do list to a could-do list I comment on the difference between calendar items, or must-dos, and next actions, as outlined by David Allen. (tags: commented productivity) [...]

By: Grace L. Judson

Grace L. Judson — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:05:18 +0000

Thank you.

I think David Allen is definitely onto something. Of course, I’ve heard that integrating his full system into your life can take two years! yikes.

Systems notwithstanding, what’s really important, I think, is to look at why something’s not getting done. It could be that it’s a project instead of a task – that’s the biggest, in my experience, as I said.

Or there could be a good reason not to do it. Lots of times things creep onto to-do lists because of “shoulds” that aren’t necessarily related to reality.

Or there could be an identity issue going on – if you do this thing, will your view of yourself in the world change? That can be a powerful reason for falling prey to what I call “someday syndrome” – someday I will write a book, learn to surf, take up playing the bagpipes… Because if/when I do these things, my identity will change – now I’m the person who did this (and perhaps failed, or perhaps succeeded, or …) instead of being the person who will do this someday.

I could go on – as you can see this is a favourite topic of mine! – but I’ll stop now. :)

By: Bryan Person, Monster Blogger

Bryan Person, Monster Blogger — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:49:24 +0000

Great point about projects, Grace! They can seem overwhelming and cause us to procrastinate because we haven’t yet broken them down into smaller, more manageable, tasks. Another concept in David Allen’s system. Hey, maybe this guy really is onto something!

By: Grace L. Judson

Grace L. Judson — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:26:21 +0000

I like this concept of “could do,” but – as Bryan hints at in his comment – I do think that there really IS such a thing as a “gotta do it today or something will fall apart” task.

Another interesting point that I’ve been working with for a little while is that something on the to-do/could-do/whatever it is list (!) MUST be a task, not a project.

If it’s a project, that’s when I see myself and my clients procrastinating like mad. It’s just too big to even contemplate doing, and you just KNOW that you can’t get it all done today. You might not even know where to start.

So if I’m stuck on starting something, the first thing I do is ask, “Is this a project masquerading as a task on my list?” About 93% of the time it is. Then I can break it down into tasks, and it’s easy to get started!

The other 7% of the time it’s something I just truly don’t want to do – which makes it a candidate for crossing off uncompleted, but that’s a whole ‘nother story!

By: Bryan Person, Monster Blogger

Bryan Person, Monster Blogger — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:06:04 +0000

Alexander: I know that really distinguishing between items we *must* do today versus items we *should* do today is something I’ve always struggled with, but am improving in my modified version of David Allen’s “Getting Things Done System.”

Allen contends that items to go on your calendar list for today should only be those that absolutely, positively must get done today, lest your job or family fall to pieces. Everything else is a “next action,” which you get to as you have time.

Using this system, I feel much less burdened with my to-do, or must-do, items.

Wondering how others handle this.