Even when you’re impossibly busy, some tasks work a lot better when you do them immediately. That might mean moving something to the top of your to-do list, but it could also mean getting things done without putting them on a list at all. Here are the seven best reasons I can think of for doing something right now:
1. It’ll take less than two minutes.
The two-minute rule is an important piece of the Getting Things Done system. It operates on the assumption that very short tasks take more time and energy to write down and think about later than they do to finish right now, so there’s no reason not to do them immediately. The two-minute rule was also the subject of an earlier post on Task Blog.
2. It’s the next action for one of your projects.
Multi-step tasks are considered “projects” in GTD, and you shouldn’t put off finishing a to-do item that’s keeping one of your projects from moving forward.
3. It’s the next action for a team project.
This one is even more urgent. If you’re collaborating with others on a project, and they’re counting on you to finish your portion before they can keep working, you should do it now.
4. You’ve already put it off more than once.
Procrastination is a tough beast to tame. If something’s been on your list for a while, and you’ve either moved on to other things or stopped working altogether, you should either do it now or cross it off your list. There’s no reason to let one nagging task interfere with everything else you have to get done.
5. You won’t get another chance to do it.
Sometimes you end up with an opportunity to do something you’re not going get another shot at. Maybe it’s a job application that’s due today, or maybe it’s a backstage pass to a rock show. Whatever the situation, you should make extra effort to shake off being tired or stressed out so that you don’t miss your only chance to get something important done.
6. You’re getting extra incentives to finish more quickly.
If you’re working on something that offers greater returns depending on how soon you can get it done, like a bonus from your job for finishing a project in ahead of schedule, you should go ahead and grab it. Sometimes, that might mean other tasks get put off and turned in late, but the rewards can potentially outweigh the penalties.
7. It wakes you up in the middle of the night.
Grab onto inspiration it when it appears. Sometimes a great idea might not seem so great once you start second-guessing yourself, so even capturing it on paper might not do the trick. The only way to get the most out of that situation is to start working right away.
I know I must have missed a few items that should be on this list, and I hope you’ll leave a comment if you think of some. On the other hand, now you’ve got at least 7 reasons to close this tab and take care of the immediate tasks in your life. Happy GTD-ing!
Jay is a freelance writer based in Seattle, WA. He blogs about software for Download Squad, and contributes interviews to Geek Monthly magazine, among others. You can also find him on Twitter.
Photo Credit – kacey
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Sometime doing things is faster then writing them in the To Do List