If you’re in business or ministry, here are 5 things you must do today.
One. Carve out time to do the thing that’s most important. Chances are, if you have identified it as that important, but don’t get to it today, you won’t tomorrow either. This is probably not a simple task on your to-do list. It’s more than likely a phone call or conversation, or the first stage of some major project.
Two. Pick out as many more things that you can get done, start to finish, in the next 30 minutes, and get them done in the next 30 minutes. Don’t check your email, twitter, or facebook, and don’t answer your phone. It can wait 30 minutes.
Three. Now that your list is significantly shorter than it was when you started, do something you really enjoy. Maybe it’s a walk around the office to chat with coworkers. Maybe it’s a blog post you want to write or read. Maybe it’s a few minutes to breathe fresh air outside. This should last fifteen minutes.
Four. Go back to your desk and change the sort order for your email, oldest at the top, and address any that you should have addressed two weeks ago. Don’t let them go another day. I know, responding to them today will, in a way, admit you missed the boat when you didn’t respond then, but people will appreciate a response even if it is two weeks late.
Five. Say yes to something new. This may take a little shift in your thinking. When you started today, you were overwhelmed by your list with no way to add one more thing, but it’s the people who consistently add one more thing that make good things happen. Whatever it is, just make sure you get it done today, because in two weeks, it just may be too late.