Your To-Do List: Remember the 4 Ds

Eisenhower Matrix

Between personal and business life, the to-do list seems to never end. There are the things with deadlines that have to be done this week. There are the ideas that you want to do someday. Then, there are the dreaded tasks that keep moving from today’s list to tomorrow’s. So, how can we turn the never-ending list into something that’s reasonable and accomplishable?

When it comes to taking action on your to-do list, remember the four Ds:

1. Do It

Is it important? Is it a priority? Can it only be done by you? Is it something simple you can knock out quickly and check off your list? If your answer is “yes,” then as Nike says, just do it.

For more on how to work efficiently, check out 5 Tips for Staying Focused & Productive and The Pomodoro Technique: What It Is & How To Use It.

2. Delegate It

Maybe you hate writing, and the thought of spending time on a newsletter or a blog post or social media posts sends you into a panic. Maybe you just don’t have time you can dedicate to updating your website or figuring out how to edit your video or podcast recording. If it’s not your zone of genius and taking the time to learn just isn’t an option, delegate it. Hire a professional. Automate what you can. Let someone else clean your house so you can focus on money-making tasks.

3. Delay It

I’m not talking procrastination here. If something on your list is more of a wish for the future or a down-the-road focus, purposely take it off your list for now. Add it to your calendar for a time that makes sense for you. Maybe it can be a priority in three, six, or 12 months.

For tips on scheduling, check out 3 Steps for Organizing Your Week.

4. Delete It

Is this something you should actually have on your list at all? Is there another task on your list that is more effective and accomplishes the same goal? Do you NEED two blog posts a week? Is a particular networking group giving you a return on investment or is your time better spent elsewhere? If you can’t justify it, delete it.

This style of decision-making originates from the Eisenhower Matrix (as in President Eisenhower). He would categorize his tasks into four categories: Urgent/Important, Important/Not Urgent, Urgent/Not Important, and Not Urgent/Not Important. The 4 Ds is a way of interpreting--in a catchy way--this same method of prioritization.