Professional:
- Projects not started. Projects not completed. Goals, targets, objectives
- Commitments/promises to others (boss, partners, colleagues, subordinates, customers, organizations, professionals…)
- Communications to make/get (messages, mails, calls, etc.)
- Writing to finish/submit (reports, proposals, articles, instructions, etc.)
- Waiting for… information, delegated tasks, replies, ordered items, decisions, etc.
- Decisions that have to be made. Who needs to know?
- Meetings that need to be set.
- Admin (Travel, supplies, banks, legal issues, insurance, procedures, etc.)
- Customers; Sales; Marketing; Promotion
- Financial stuff (budgets, forecasts, statistics, credit line, cash flow, etc.).
- Systems (phones, computers, office equipment).
- Professional development (training, things to learn, skills to practice.)
- Significant read/review; Research.
Personal:
- Projects not started. Projects not completed. Goals, targets, objectives
- Commitments/promises to others (SO, friends, family)
- Communications to make/get with family and friends.
- Home/chores (laundry, plumbing, electricity, decoration, furniture, etc.)
- Things to do (places to go, people to meet.)
- Hobbies (books, music, movies.)
- Admin (bills, banks, investments, loans, taxes, insurance, legal affairs.)
- Upcoming events (birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, travel, social events, cultural events, sporting events, etc.)
- Waiting for… replies, orders, repair, loaned items, etc.
- Phone, Computers, TV, Music, CDs, Cameras, film.
- Closets/clothes. Sports equipment. Garage/storage. Vehicle repair/maintenance.
- Pets.
- Health care.
- Community (neighborhood, schools, local government)
Used to do a “mind sweep” of everything on your mind. For maximum effectiveness, copy and create your own trigger list (e.g. remove pets if you don’t have pets)
If you like this, you’ll probably like: Zen to done, GTD, Eat that frog, books