Can You Be Over-Driven?

I’ve been a task-oriented, checklist driven fool for years now.  I’ve lived and died by my To Do list in Outlook for what seems like an eternity.

Reflecting during some quiet time this weekend, I thought to myself, “Why would you create such a massive list of things to do?”.  Seriously.  I’d wake up thinking about all of the “stuff” I have to do each and every day.  Even in a Facebook comment from my friend Mike, I realized that I am not the only one that does this!

Some things on the list were the repetitive things that I do everyday.  From following up on work related data to updating my information online, I always feel this pressure of “got to do it now” mentality.

Now begins the the “Uppie Time Study”.

Basically what I have started to do is thin down my To Do list to the things I consider needed.  Combined some of the tasks into one simple step.  Thinned down the herd, so to speak.

So here is a list that I have started applying to my list:

Is this task relevant to my goals and objectives?

Is this a task that I perform regularly without remind?

Is this list prioritized with my goals and objectives in mind?

Is there anything that I could delegate to someone who might be better at it?

I have gone through my daily objectives and applied them to my long term and short term goals.

I have identified what matters.

I have removed what doesn’t.

I had become so driven and task oriented that I lost sign of my goals.  And my life.

So my advice to you?  Stay driven.  But focus your drive to what matters to you.

If you don’t, you’ll stress and lose sight of the forest.

~Uppie