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WHY USE A TO DO LIST?

A To Do list is a list of all of the things you have to do.  Taking the time to properly prepare a To Do list is an effective of getting a handle on your priorities so you can tackle your most important items first.  A professional who has to handle a lot of different things that have to be done can benefit from a To Do list pretty much the same way an artist does when he or she steps back from a canvas to take a view of everything in its proper perspective.  

If you find that you sometimes forget to take care of something that is important because you were busy with something else, then a To Do list is definitely the ticket for you.  It helps to reduce stress because you will become more confident that the way you are spending your time makes sense.  Eventually, by being diligent and persistent, your list of Things To Do will become more manageable and less anxiety provoking.

When using a To Do list, try to be objective.  Sometimes a Thing To Do is really a set of smaller related tasks that has to be done one at a time.   With Whistler's List, you have the option of listing a new project and then identifying these related tasks with the project at hand.

Once you have identified your priorities using a To Do list, accept the fact that things will come up that are not on your list and they will consume much of your time.  For example, a potential client may call you to ask some questions about a certain subject.  By all means don't be curt with this potential client simply because he or she is not on your To Do list. Think of a To Do list as a productivity enhancing tool, not as something that replaces good judgment.  If you should succeed in accomplishing a good number of your identified things to do, consider giving yourself a personal reward or treat. 

When you first begin using a To Do list you may find that you are only able to do one or two items in a whole day.  This may be so frustrating for you that you may be tempted to drop the whole idea of using a To Do list.  Don't let this happen to you.  By sticking with a To Do list, you will surely become more productive.  It does, however, take some time to develop an ability to focus on your specified priorities.  If you can get to the point of regularly handling three or four items on a daily basis, congratulations.  Consider your productivity as having been enhanced.  Then keep trying to increase your daily average.

After using a To Do list for a while, you may find that there are certain low priority items that you do not get to for months, if ever.  If this happens to you, relax.  Some identified priorities are simply low priorities.   As long as you take care of the most important things first, then you'll be fine getting to the lower priorities when you can.

You can reorder the list of Things To Do in Whistler's List simply by clicking on any column header.  It is useful to do this from time to time, because this allows you to group your tasks by client or project.  You can also see at a glance which items have been on your plate the longest, or which ones have the closest deadlines coming up.

Whistler's List is resizable, so feel free to keep it open on your desktop at all times.  You also have the option of printing out your list and keeping it on your desk for reference.