Having trouble getting things done?

I ran across an easy task tracking system that is working well for me and may help you get more done.

The system is the Autofocus System by Mark Forster is a simple and consists of a simple process of capturing and keeping track of your tasks.

Rather than me try to describe it, read how Mark describes it:

The system consists of one long list of everything that you have to do, written in a ruled notebook (25-35 lines to a page ideal). As you think of new items, add them to the end of the list. You work through the list one page at a time in the following manner:

1. Read quickly through all the items on the page without taking action on any of them.
2. Go through the page more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you.
3. Work on that item for as long as you feel like doing so
4. Cross the item off the list, and re-enter it at the end of the list if you haven’t finished it
5. Continue going round the same page in the same way. Don’t move onto the next page until you complete a pass of the page without any item standing out
6. Move onto the next page and repeat the process
7. If you go to a page and no item stands out for you on your first pass through it, then all the outstanding items on that page are dismissed without re-entering them. (N.B. This does not apply to the final page, on which you are still writing items). Use a highlighter to mark dismissed items.
8. Once you’ve finished with the final page, re-start at the first page that is still active.

Jump over and read the rest of Mark’s description and outline of his system.

I’ve picked up a couple Mole Skin notebooks and started using them to keep track of the tasks I need to track (and do) and use one notebook for the office and one for home/school.  I’ve found that since I’ve been using this system, I’ve been able to keep on top of more things more easily.

If you are a fan of Steven Covey or David Allen, you may not like the Autofocus system…it may seem a bit to simple for you.

But…if you’re like me and can’t bring yourself to spend part of  your day trying to remember how to organize your life and another part of the day trying to use your system, you’ll like Autofocus.

This system is straightforward and is really nothing more than a simple to-do list.  The power comes in remembering to go back and read through the list regularly and actually do something with the tasks listed.

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