This New “To-Do” List Method is Super Effective - And Even Easier “To Do"

Raise your hand if you love tackling your to-do list.

Didn’t think so.

And, of course, if you’re eager to raise your to-do-list-loving hand, there’s a good chance that you already are doing things a little differently, like not allowing your to-do list to get so out of hand that it haunts you day after day. Of course, according to productivity science, any approach to a “standard” to-do list is ineffective, mainly because they reward our brains in all of the wrong ways. Rather than getting done what’s really important, to-do list fans check things off simply for the reward of getting something done, no matter how easy or inconsequential that “thing” really is - or was.

The basic problem with to-do lists, however, isn’t that they make us happy for getting little things done; it’s that they stress us out when we really don’t need to be. To-do lists, unfortunately, have the tendency of making small, everyday tasks feel urgent, diverting our attention away from the things that really matter.

In the words of Aytekin Tank, the founder of JotForm, traditional to-lists are nothing more than “a race to the bottom, except there is no bottom”.

His advice?

An alternative “to-do” list system known as the Hunter Method.

Incredibly simple and surprisingly effective, the Hunter Method requires you to choose just one thing, not several, to get done today. And, no, that “thing” doesn’t have to be huge or even super time-consuming. Instead, the “one thing” should be the thing you can do that will create the most impact for the day - like the first domino you need to push in order to start a positive chain reaction. Tank recommends writing this one “to-do” down on a Post-It so that you can use it as a reminder to stay focused, even when other, smaller tasks are begging for your attention.

And, if you’re having difficulty knowing what that “one thing” is, there’s a simple question to help you to zero in on it:

What is the one thing you least want to do today?

Rather than procrastinating the difficult or cumbersome task, distracting yourself with other seemingly important tasks (like wasting time checking email, sorting through notes, or all the other meaningless errands and office tasks), knock out that one thing first. When you do, not only will you feel more fulfilled, but you’ll have set off a catalyst to help you gain real momentum.

Looking to the Future: What Would a “Full-Automation” Factory Really Look Like?

When you hear the phrase “full-automation”, what comes to mind? Depending on your industry (and your inclination to think optimistically or pessimistically), that vision will look dramatically different. For some, full-automation is a dream come true, an answer to monotony and a “get-out-of-jail-free” card from any type of corporate or entrepreneurial handcuffs. Of course, the same phrase could also elicit a fear response, sending brains into panic mode as humans are replaced by robots, leaving us to fend for ourselves in a world run by self-driving, fully-automated everything.

 But, before any of us get too far down the “I, Robot” rabbit hole, let’s think about the rather tangible, and likely, scenario of full-automation in the world of online retail.

 What would a human-free fulfillment center for a company, say Amazon, really look like? And what would be the cultural, social and economic effects?

 In a fictional op-ed piece written for the New York Times by science fiction author and journalist Brian Merchant, the argument is made that “The End of Work” as some people, whether rosily or begrudgingly, spout really isn’t realistic. In fact, even in “fully-automated” facilities and factories, it makes sense that humans will still have to play a role in order to keep things operating correctly. And, unfortunately, it could pose some serious threats to human health and safety, not to mention mental and emotional well-being.

 Below is an excerpt from Merchant’s piece in order to paint his picture of what an Amazon fulfillment center would look like in the year 2034, himself, the reporter, also an Amazon contractor:

 I have worked at this “human free” facility since it opened, performing maintenance on its fleet of robots when they need repairs. I am part of what Amazon refers to as its “contingency network”: the third-party contracting companies that hire human workers to keep the automated facility running. Each of these companies categorizes workers like myself as independent contractors, so they don’t have to pay for health care coverage, time off or workers’ compensation insurance.

 We are the technicians who repair the machines when they break down. The janitors who clean up the messes the robots make when other robots can’t do the cleaning or when management decides it would be cheaper or faster for a human to do the task instead. The programmers who fix glitches in the logistics software. And, yes, the pickers who help their robotic counterparts find the right items by hand when the robotic arms get jammed.

 When we have complained to the contracting companies about unsafe conditions, they refer us to Amazon. When we complain to Amazon, they send us back to the contracting companies. Some of us are trying to organize, but our unions have yet to be recognized…

 Although entirely fictional, this point of view sheds light on cultural and societal issues that can - and should - be addressed today, both by independent contractors and companies that employ them. By recognizing the need for human work, even within a “fully-automated” system, businesses and contractors can begin constructing a world where some of the fears and dangers of the future won’t be able to take hold.