Make a to-don’t list

It’s all about the notes you don’t play

May 30, 2022

Hey there —

How many things on your to-do list are absolutely essential?

Be honest. What would happen if you didn’t finish everything today? Sure, you might forget your dry cleaning, or have to push back a deadline, but the world would keep spinning.

And that’s the biggest problem with to-do lists. They’re only as good as the intention we put into them.

Lists can be great productivity tools. But too often we create massive to-do lists packed with minor tasks to feel productive, while ignoring the two or three things that actually matter.

So what’s the solution? Make a to-don’t list — an inventory of tasks you shouldn’t do.

Creating a to-don’t list flips the way we use to-do lists by helping us identify and eliminate unnecessary busy work instead of prioritizing it.

Once you know what’s on your to-don’t list you can concentrate on doing the work that provides the most value. Even better, this list of no-go tasks eliminates the need to exercise your self-discipline muscle every time you want to erase a low-value task, break bad habits, or say no.

So, what’s fair game on your to-don’t list?

  • Stuff that doesn’t need to be done — Cut the fat. Remove the busy work or low-priority tasks and focus on one or two projects that will make the most difference.

  • Distractions — Checking social media during work hours. Refreshing your inbox every twenty minutes. And anything else that keeps you from achieving a flow state.

  • Tasks you can eliminate, outsource, or delegate — Find ways to automate or outsource the most mundane or repetitive tasks so they don’t drain your time or energy.

  • Bad habits you want to let go of — Stop saying “yes” to every request, getting sucked into office gossip, or being available 24/7.

Need some inspiration to get started? Here are three items from organizational psychologist and bestselling author, Adam Grant’s, to-don’t list:

❌ Helping everyone who asks
❌ Mindlessly engaging with screens
❌ Putting work ahead of family time

Abandoning work and habits that don’t help you meet your goals will not only give you more time to focus on truly important work but also aid in using your time more meaningfully — whether it’s for solitude, that side hustle, family time, or rest.

The Time Trap of Productivity

Article | by Lawrence Yeo

According to Lawrence Yeo, this quote from Seneca sums up the entire culture of productivity:

“Everything we have belongs to others; time alone is ours.”

This is why we hurry through lunch when we could be enjoying it instead. It’s why our heart drops when it’s already 4 PM and we haven’t checked off half the items on our to-do list. It’s why we think working harder for longer is the key to success. (It’s not).

So, how do we get out of this time trap? Read the article to learn how to optimize your life according to old-school commitments — not the clock.

How Do You Help a Grieving Friend?

Video | by Megan Devine

We’ve all been there: Wanting to comfort our friend, family member, or spouse when they’re experiencing grief, but not knowing how.

Words of condolence can only do so much (and can sometimes backfire).

Megan Devine has studied intense grief and loss — things like violent crimes, accidents, and suicides. She realized the key to helping people feel better is to…let them be in pain.

Sounds counterintuitive, we know. But the best way to soothe someone who’s grieving is to acknowledge their pain rather than forcing them to look on the bright side.

Bullshit Product Generator

Tool | by Steve Robbins

Behind every great product are a thousand bad ideas.

But Steve Robbins takes those worthless ideas to a whole next level. Every time you press refresh, this website generates your million-dollar bullshit product idea.

Here are some that made us LOL, for real:

  • Turmeric Tequila

  • Rose Petal Dog Shampoo

  • Kale Condoms

Written by Rochi Zalani