The Not-To-Do List: Bad Habits to Stop Now
August 13th, 2007 (6:00am) Judi Sohn 57 CommentsTweet This
By Tim Ferriss
This week I realized once again how “not-to-do” lists can be just as effective—often more so—than to-do lists for upgrading performance. The reason is simple: what you don’t do determines what you can do.
Here are nine stressful and common habits that entrepreneurs and office workers should strive to eliminate. Focus on one or two at a time, just as you would with high-priority to-do items.
I’ve worded them in no-to-do action form:
1. Do not answer unrecognized phone calls
2. Do not e-mail first thing in the morning or last thing at night
3. Do not agree to meetings or calls with no clear agenda or end time
4. Do not let people ramble—forget “how’s it going?” and embrace “what’s up?”
5. Do not check e-mail constantly—“batch” and check at set times only
6. Do not over-communicate with low-profit, high-maintenance customers
7. Do not work more to fix overwhelm—prioritize
8. Do not carry a cellphone or Crackberry 24/7, seven days a week—make evenings and/or Saturdays digital leash-free.
9. Do not expect work to fill a void that non-work relationships and activities should
It’s hip to focus on getting things done, but it’s only possible once we remove the constant static and distraction. If you have trouble deciding what to do, just focus on not doing to re-focus. Different means, same end. Embrace the anti-Nike: Just don’t do it.
Timothy Ferriss is the author of the best-selling book, The 4-Hour Workweek
Web Work 101: How To Escape The Cubicle
Very useful list! Thanks- I was expecting “Don’t talk on the phone.”-quality responses but I think I might be able to use all nine points. Thanks again!
While the whole list is helpful, I find #6 particularly helpful, particularly since there are some customers you’ll never be able to make happy no matter how much time you spend on them.
I just broke rule number one this morning and am regretting it… I’ve just recently started adhering to number five (Don’t check email all day) religiously and it’s doing wonders to my productivity. And you can’t lose site of number 9. You just can’t.
I really like this idea of a “To Don’t” list! This was great! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Number nine is invaluable. Since we’re all on our way to becoming workaholics, having a clear delineation is necessary.
Number two and five are my constant downfalls.
Good lists!
How about:
Don’t respond to an inflamatory email
-Dave Dragon
Ride it like you stole it
number 5 is soooo true!
Very good list!
Managed to omit all 9 points today – took a day off with my family. We drove to a nice place in the countryside of Lower-Austria to meet some friends :-)
I totally agree with all these points. In my business, if you try to do everything for everyone, there won’t be anything left for you and your best clients.
So true especially: “Do not over-communicate with low-profit, high-maintenance customers” — does this include slaved driving clients?
I am so guilty of carrying my celphone 24/7 and for always putting my work as the top priority. You are right, it also helps to focus on what not to do rather than focusing only on the to do list because we sometimes tend to miss out on certain things that are more important to us.
Do not outsource your romantic interactions or otherwise let efficiency poo on the integrity of your relationships with others, you creep.
I can add:
don’t answer any question directly – give your self little time before reply
don’t mix your social and professional life – work hours is for work
don’t subscribe to more than 5 groups at the same time
i liked this =D thank you for sharing !.
Excellent! I’m guilty of many of these! Time for a change! Love #1. I answer calls from unknowns and then get angry at them. No more. Caller id is my friend. Good list!
I read it. I understood it. I want to put into practice. God be with me.
Some of the thoughts expressed in this article are echoed in a study over here in Scotland, as seen here.
Checking and replying to emails too often causes stress!
One thing I’d add, which is sort of a do-not, is to meditate. Stating that to figure out what you should be doing, first stop doing whatever it is your doing and do nothing for a bit – well, thats meditation in a nutshell. Helps me focus on the task at hand rather than juggling a thousand other things I can’t do anything about at the moment..
How about adding another one to the list: don’t check blogs and newsfeeds all day long, including this one. ;-)
Seriously, I find these kind of sites to be as disruptive as email. Set aside for a set time. Or, another approach, make it a reward for finishing an action item.
-= Skip =-
I work for a large University. We’re all on the same team and should be serving the people of our state. Since it’s so large I get calls from many people whose numbers I don’t recognize. Rule number 1 is asinine. They’re calling for a reason and haven’t just pushed seven numbers at random.
Good list. I am a big advocate of checking e-mail once an hour. I have no “chimes” or icons that show when a new e-mail arrives. It’s an interruption. Also the expectation to respond to e-mails within seconds eliminates any conscientious thought that would be written in those e-mails. It sucks feeling obligated to “race to get a reply back out”. Been there, still am at times.
Also I agree with 9. I keep my personal and work life separate. The few friends I hang out with outside work are from other departments and we never interact for business reasons. Having your social life at work, or having a “campus” work that gives you day care, dry cleaning, juice bars and all that is just the company keeping you on a short leash. You should be doing those life chores near home in your own community in your own (non-company managed) time.
I don’t understand #2 though. What’s wrong with e-mailing in the morning?
james http://www.futuregringo.com
The daily life of a slave recapitulates slavery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situationist_International
adjust your situation.
Pretty good list. One way to break the habits is to keep track of them and connect with others trying to do the same. You can do it at HiddenHabits.com.
“8. Do not carry a cellphone or Crackberry 24/7, seven days a week—make evenings and/or Saturdays digital leash-free.”
Um… the ’seven days a week’ is redundant. 24/7 stands for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You’re pretty much saying twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, seven days a week. And that’s just ridiculous.
10. Do Not Make Lists
I too am curious as to what’s wrong with emailing first thing in the morning. When I’m very busy I answer the urgent ones first thing and then turn the emailoff for a few hours.
Thanks for the concept. I have written about this in my blog.
I like the concept and have a few more Not-To-Do’s to add:
Do not waste time looking for things. Stay organised.
Do not take on more than you can handle
Do not spend too much time and effort on low yield stuff
Add your own points but do not let the Do Not list overwhelm you.
I am professor of psychology who studies bad habits and how to get rid of them. I loved your tips for increasing productivity. I like also how you are explaining how to eliminate a bad habit with a good one. I think that that is entirely necessary.
Good tips… I’m trying to come up with some productivity tips to show on ZoToDo, so if you don’t mind I’ll include some of yours. Might as well use this as a promtional opportunity too :) ZoToDo – Simple To Do Lists