Recently when looking over my to-do list, I discovered a few items that have been on there for an extended period of time. I would imagine that if you did the same, you might find a couple old actions on your list also.
How does that happen? I diligently track my actions and projects. However, it just seems that some plans never become urgent enough to drive me to action. But they still needed to be done. Sound familiar?
The items that lingered on my list were not things that were difficult, or even overwhelming. They had one attribute in common. They were more difficult to integrate into the normal routine of my day. To complete them would mean going out of my way. I would be required to spend time that I did not want to relinquish.
Ironically, once I decide to do one of these lingering items, it usually takes very little effort at all.
Here is a solution that I have implemented that has helped me accomplish tasks that otherwise may just sit around for awhile. I schedule time in my calendar every other week specifically to tackle old action items. During this time I will review anything that is older than 2 weeks. If it no longer requires my attention, I delete it. If it requires action, I do it.
So far, it has helped in two ways. It has eliminated things that I no longer needed to do, and secondly it has kept some minor things from becoming urgent. If you have some tasks that are dragging you down by staying on your list too long, give this a try. It may help.