Make the Shift to a No Matter What List

Today I’m encouraging you to dump your traditional to do list and make the shift to a No Matter What List. The No Matter What list is a great productivity tool for anyone who wants to get more done and feel less overwhelmed. If you ever make a huge weekly “to do” list then this tip is for you!

When you create a long to do list, even if you’re able to check off quite a things, you can still feel overwhelmed with all those unchecked items staring back at you.

So I love helping people make the shift to using a No Matter What list. It sort of turns the To Do List upside down.

Start your No Matter What list by adding 3 to 4 things you are committed to completing this week no matter what. These first items should be the most important tasks you can think of. For example, you can ask yourself, “Ok, if the whole week falls apart and I can only get 4 things done, what should those 4 things be?”

As soon as you have completed 2 to 3 items, you can add 2 or 3 more items. A good guideline is that you should never have more than 5 incomplete items on your No Matter What list at any time - that’s very manageable.

As you check things off, add more tasks. So unlike a traditional to do list that starts out long, the No Matter What list starts out short and grows as you get things done. With a No Matter What list, you have lots of COMPLETED check boxes staring back at you, and that’s empowering!

Several years ago, I ran an accountability challenge and over half the participants said that when they made the shift to the No Matter What list they felt less overwhelmed, were able to work with more focus, and they got more done.

I hope you will give the No Matter What list a try. Is there a topic you'd like me to cover in my Productivity Boost segment on GNAT? We'd love your ideas. Feel free to comment below. Until next time, make it a great week!

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