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What is a Not-To-Do List?
As a teacher (let alone in all the other roles in which you serve), you are asked and expected to do far more everyday than you can actually do. [Note: This may hardly be a newsflash for you, but reread that last sentence if you need to do so.]
Because of the overwhelming "petitions" for your time and attention, you need filters in place to help separate out some of these requests, tasks, responsibilities, and so forth, so that you can make wise decisions about where to spend your precious time, intellect, and energy.
Possible filters for determining your "not-to-do" list include the following:
- Low-priority items (unless your high-priority items have all been completed; ha!).
- Tasks whose completion is of little or no consequence or that no one will notice (whether they are done or not).
- Details and/or projects that you can give to someone else to do, either through delegation and/or "trade".
- Anything just done to please others because you fear (or worry about) their condemnation or because you want them to be beholden to you.
- Thoughtless, inappropriate, or ridiculous requests for your time, intellect, and effort (especially those that offer no appropriate compensation).
- Any tasks that others should be doing for themselves.
- Whatever you said 'yes' to when you should have said 'no'.
- Instances where the cost (money, effort, time, energy, relationships) is greater than the benefit.
Let's work through an example of #7: Something you said 'yes' to when you should have said 'no.'
You agreed that you would serve on an accreditation committee in a few months for a nearby charter school and ever since you said 'yes,' it's been driving you crazy wondering how you will fit this in, especially since you are the accrditation chair for your large high school, you teach AP courses, you have two teenage children, and have had some health issues. As you think this through, you know that this now falls on your "not-to-do" list and so you call the person who asked you and let her know you won't be able to serve by saying, "It turns out I can't be on the Faculty Senate committee, but I appreciate your asking me."
She is disappointed but understands. You feel as if an incredible weight has been lifted from you, and you surprise your daughter by picking her up from school and taking her for an ice cream.
Choose one of the filters listed above and be specific about what that means in your life. Put the filter into place and be resolute about keeping it there. Once it is firmly in place, choose another until your "not-to-do" list is crystal clear.
Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life is in the elimination of the nonessentials.---Lin Yutang
You may make your own Not-to-Do List poster or you may access one I've created for you by going to the Downloads page of my website Top Ten Productivity Tips. It's helpful to have a reminder right infront of you until you create a mental 'reminder' about those items that should stay on your not-to-do list.
You want to be able to get to more of the items on your to-do list. I know you have plenty!
(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, and consulting.
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Kelly