Some people get completely absorbed by their to do lists. Others try to keep everything in their head.
At PDCA Complete, we are keen for our users to strike a balance. One of our key tips is to use what we call the daily brain dump.
This is a quick listing of the stuff that is flying around your head at the start of the day. Get it out of your head and into your task management system. Later on you can schedule your time to deal with the stuff that you have listed out.
Getting this information out of your head can do wonders for your peace of mind. Instead of worrying whether you have done everything you said you would do, you can relax!
Like emails, your real job is probably something other than managing a to do list. For example, having your email program open all day, reacting to pings, isn’t usually a good way for you to complete your real work. The distraction gets in the way. It stops you firing on all cylinders as you focus is stolen away. The same is true for to do list apps and task management software. Use it when you need to use. Put it away when you need to concentrate on something else. When you need your next task, it is there for you.
The start of day routine is a great way to do this. Clear your mind of the chatter, get on with your work priorities and then come back to the list.
In PDCA Complete, we have built it so that you can capture these ad-hoc tasks directly in the My Tasks screen. Or, if you are brain dumping against a specific project, chuck the actions there. The mobile version of the app allows you to do this on the fly too. The key is for you to get it out of your head and not spend every moment fiddling around inside the app!
If you haven’t already started with PDCA Complete, you can claim your free account today. Visit the sign up page and you can invite two colleagues into your team for free. If you want to access enhanced functionality, or add more team members, you can upgrade your account. You can find more information about this on our pricing page.
But, for now, if you haven’t tried the daily brain dump then give it a go from today. You don’t have to spend long doing this. One to two minutes is often enough for most people. Schedule any important tasks then close your task management app and get on with your day. Only come back to your app thaht day when you need another task to work on (or to get something out of your head). You should feel better and get more done during the course of the day!
