The Work From Home Experiment: A Blog Series

Plan Smarter, Work Smarter—One List at a Time!

The Power of the Action List: Boost Productivity with Purpose

At times, creating a to-do list may feel like an extra chore, but investing a few minutes in planning your day can skyrocket your productivity and efficiency. A well-structured action list provides clarity, focus, and momentum—ensuring you make meaningful progress instead of just staying busy.

Pre-Holiday Productivity Mindset 🎯

Think about how, in the final days before a holiday, you often create a must-do list to tie up loose ends. If you don’t already use this approach daily, now is the perfect time to start! A structured list keeps you on track, helping you focus on what truly matters while avoiding last-minute stress.

How to Prioritize Your Tasks 🚦

Prioritizing effectively is a game-changer, whether you’re managing projects, juggling assignments, or overseeing operations. Here’s a simple prioritization framework I use in infrastructure delivery:

1️⃣ Program – Where does this task fit in the overall timeline? If it’s due this month, it’s a high priority. If it’s six months away, it can wait.
2️⃣ Budget – Does this task impact financial planning or expenditures?
3️⃣ Risk – Could this task create a safety, operational, or reputational risk?
4️⃣ Customer – Will this affect client relationships or service delivery?

This framework helps me stay on top of tasks, but there are many prioritization methods available.

Eisenhower’s Urgent-Important Matrix

One of the most well-known prioritization tools is Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Urgent-Important Matrix, which categorizes tasks into four quadrants:

🟢 Urgent & Important – Do these tasks immediately.
🟡 Important but Not Urgent – Schedule these tasks for later.
🔴 Urgent but Not Important – Delegate these if possible.
⚪ Neither Urgent nor Important – Consider eliminating these tasks.

This simple system helps prevent burnout by ensuring that your time is spent where it matters most.

Plan Your Day the Night Before 🌙

Want to start each day with clarity and purpose? Try creating your action list at the end of the previous workday. Others may prefer to do it first thing in the morning—find what works for you!

I recommend using pen and paper ✍️ to eliminate digital distractions and keep things simple. A basic notepad, a pen, and a few minutes of reflection can set you up for a highly productive day.

Start Today: Your Action List Awaits!
A little planning goes a long way. Whether you’re preparing for a big project, managing daily tasks, or simply trying to be more organized, an action list is a powerful tool to keep you focused and in control.

What’s the first thing on your list today?