Ever Heard of Not-to-do-list? Discover everything you need to know!

A "not-to-do" list is a valuable tool for staying focused on the key aspects of your life and profession. Simply put, it's a list of things you never, ever do. When they try to find their way onto your not-to-do list, you remove them, assign them, outsource them, or simply say no.

A well-thought-out not-to-do list should assist you in maintaining good focus only performing chores that add the most value, and being more practical in ensuring that you are concentrated on the essential activities for at least 80% of the time.

What is the purpose of the not-to-do list?

Your to-do list can soon become overburdened, particularly if you struggle to say no or delegate and outsource activities. It can also occur if you're bad at task management and can't tell the difference between urgent and critical activities, as well as low- and high-impact activities. Furthermore, some individuals are susceptible to distractions and bad habits, resulting in a to-do list constantly filled with things that are never done.

The main idea behind a not-to-do list is to eliminate the need for self-discipline. It should assist you in removing low-value activities and unhealthy behaviors from your life, so you don't have to assess the benefits and drawbacks, debate whether or not to make an exception, feel guilty about declining, and so on. You say no because you are not permitted to do things that are not in your best interests.

What activities should you cross off your to-do list?

Items on your not-to-do list are typically things you know deep down you shouldn't be doing but can't seem to stop doing. A not-to-do list can assist you in methodically completing such activities once and for all.

On your not-to-do list, include the following tasks and items:

• Everything that is regarded as a distraction from keeping productive, Your weak points for the things you want to say no to but can't

• All the activities that seem to find you regularly but that you can remove, delegate, or outsource.

• Those who are responsible for the actions of others are

• Tasks have a minor impact on your value creation (for example, small projects that are always in the way of the bigger ones).

• All of your emotionally draining duties

• You wish to get rid of your negative habits.

• Things that don't need to be done

• Things over which you have no control.

And, of course, anything else you'd like to get rid of to make way for more critical responsibilities or simply to have more free time.

How do you create your own not-to-do list?

It's simple to make your own not-to-do list. The following are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Spend some time making a list.

To begin, you must set aside time to compile a list. It's well worth spending 30 to 60 minutes now to save hours and hours later in your daily life.

Step 2: Examine your prior months' tasks.

Retrospection is the next phase. You must review your previous tasks from the earlier months, particularly the recurring ones. Search for patterns in your schedule, to-do list, or time-tracking software. You should do the same with the various requests you receive in your personal and professional life.

Step 3: Make a list of tasks that shouldn't be on your "not-to-do" list.

Give each recurring task a few minutes of your time. To begin with, determine the magnitude of the task's impact on your future.

1. How much additional value do you truly add by completing the task?

2. Is it possible to eliminate, delegate, or outsource certain chores to focus on something more valuable?

Finally, consider how you feel as you complete the work.

• Do you experience any bad feelings?

• Do you have a habit of procrastinating when it comes to achieving a task?

For example, do you feel guilty or angry after saying "yes" to anything?

Identify low-level activities, projects that may be delegated, and time-wasters and distractions that are taking up more room in your schedule than they should.

Make an honest assessment of what should go on your not-to-do list. Identify tasks that assist you in postponing and those you have difficulty saying no. Find the ones that come up repeatedly and add them to your to-do list.

Step 4: Master the art of saying "no."

Begin to say no to yourself and others. That is, without a doubt, the most challenging element. You should also check your "not-to-do" list regularly (at least once a quarter) to add new items to it or remove items if your living circumstances alter. You may also apply the not-to-do list notion at the start of a new working day when you convene with yourself (or your team) for a 15-minute morning meeting to lay out your responsibilities.

Rather than asking yourself which chores you'll complete on a given day, develop a list of what you won't complete that day. It will relieve a lot of stress from your shoulders, allowing you to focus on the most critical duties while maintaining your decision-making muscle for other important decisions.

Make templates for saying no, so you can stick to your to-do list

You can use examples to gracefully refuse or assign and outsource items on your to-do list that you find difficult to say no to. Instead of drafting a new email every time, it saves you time and puts less emotional strain on you. Of course, templates are most beneficial for email responses, but you may also utilize pre-written responses when someone asks you to do anything distracting from your primary goals.

Templates and prefabricated responses are available in almost all email services. If your email operator does not provide this feature, you can utilize one of the many plugins and extensions available. To avoid offending individuals, you should come up with a friendly response to refusals by email and in person.

Nonetheless, the critical concept is that if someone asks you to do something you don't want to do, and you're not in the least bit unsure whether or not you should do it, you can simply respond with your typical response.

People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things. " Steve Jobs

Stop wasting your time and energy on things you don't need in your life!

Grab your FREE Not-To-Do-List

The anti-to-do list should not be confused with the not-to-do list.

The "not-to-do" list is a list of tasks that you will never do. It's a list of activities and jobs that you shouldn't do since they're low-value, deplete your energy, or divert your attention away from your primary objectives. On the other hand, an anti-to-do list is a list of things you have already finished. It's essentially a "done" column on your Kanban Board.

The purpose of an anti-to-do list is to keep track of how much you've accomplished so far, to inspire you to do even more or to draw a line across things after you've achieved enough for the day. You evaluate your achievements for the day using the anti-to-do list.

The fundamental purpose of an anti-to-do list is that at the end of the day, rather than focusing on how much is still on your to-do list, you feel proud of how much you have accomplished (provided you had a good day).

What factors influence your ability to succeed? Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate. Allow the not-to-do list to assist you with this.

A list of things not to do is an example of a "not-to-do" list.

Here's an example of how a "not-to-do list" should appear. Keep the list to roughly 10–20 items to avoid it being overly congested and hence difficult to remember:

• I will not deal with critics, ghouls, or emotional vampires.

• I will not over crossing my margins or overload myself.

• Every day, I will not check my email first and last.

• When you're working, you shouldn't have your email open, and you shouldn't respond to every email or instant message that comes in.

• There will be no meetings (in person or over the phone) unless there is a clear plan and deadline.

• I will not make any small talk (in person, by phone, or by IM).

• I will not read the news.

• I have no time for social media sites (except for the promotion of your blog).

• I will not chat about other people.

• I will not do late nights (after midnight).

• No heavy foods after 7 p.m.

What are your thoughts? What should you include in your "not-to-do" list? Create your own using a piece of paper and a pen, then post it on your wall and make sure you stick to it as much as possible.