Making Time for the MITs (Most Important Things) [Back To Work]

[Field Nurse]

Over the past 14 years, I have studied productivity, the learning process, and time management. Just six years ago, I returned to university to earn a degree in psychology to understand the application of fundamental thought changes. To this day, I am fascinated by the processes people use to “be productive.” Personally, how do you measure your own productivity? For many people, there is some “gut check” at the end of the day; a reflection on what they did (or didn’t do) and how they feel about that. How do YOU know if it was a good or a bad day?
Have you ever finished a day, looked around, and realized you did not do some of the most important things on your mind? You kept on meaning to get to it, but there just was not enough time!
I can only begin to report on what I’ve heard over time. People tell me they make a “mental priority list,” they email themselves at the office, they even leave themselves voicemails to “remind” themselves of the MITs for the day.
I have seen people write on their own hands, ask their coworkers to help them stay on track, still others will book a conference room in the office—for themselves! It seems that everyone has their own way to minimize the distractions and focus in on what they KNOW they want to get done.
Here’s an exercise I use to place the appropriate (and timely!) attention on what I consider to be the MIT's—the Most Important Things.

• Start off by thinking of 3 things to focus on for the next 12 hours.
• Write those—as objectives and/or goals—on a sticky-note or index card.
• Put that note somewhere you'll see it throughout the day.
• Review it occasionally.
• At the end of the day, ask yourself, "Did I do what I said I would do? Did I focus on what I said I would focus on?"
• Finally, throw away/recycle the index card.

The next morning, repeat the exercise. I recommend you do this for five business days. Who knows, at the end of those five days, you may have made progress on 15 significant areas of your work AND your life!
Hint: the exercise is not about a Post-It or index card. The key is in deciding what's important, before you start your day, and bringing your attention back to those projects on a consistent, purposeful basis. Instead of focusing on having the “right” time management tool or the “perfect” system, place your focus on the process.
This idea is meant to provide you with a marker and a reminder…something you can use to recalibrate your (limited) focus throughout the day. Remember, it’s easy to get back from a meeting and “quickly” check your email. However, it may be more “time-cost effective” to get back, review your list of three and set a timer for 17 minutes.
Regularly focus in on one of your MITs, and end the day feeling productive and knowing you made significant progress on your goals.
Jason Womack travels the world teaching people and their companies about workplace effectiveness and productivity. He is a small business entrepreneur, a former teacher, a busy business traveler, and an active triathlete. He can be reached at 805-640-6401 and by email at [email protected].

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