CHAPTER 7 | ORGANIZING: SETTING UP THE RIGHT BUCKETSing a discrete "Calls" list makes it much easier to focus and intu-
itively pick the best call to make in the moment.
I -suggest that you take the time to write the phone number
itself alongside each item. There are many situations in which you
would probably make the call if the number was already there in
front of you but not if you had to look it up."At Computer" If you work with a computer—particularly if you
move around with a laptop or have a PC at work and another one
at home—it can be helpful to group all those actions that you
need to do when it's on and running. This will allow you to see all
your options for computer work to do, reminding you of all the
e-mails you need to send, the documents you need to draft or edit,
and so on.
Because I fly a lot, I even maintain an "On-
line" action list, separate from my "At Computer"
one. When I'm on a plane, I can't easily connect to
the Web or to my server, as many actions require. So
instead of having to rethink what I can and can't do
whenever I look at my "At Computer" list, I can trust
that none of my "At Computer" actions require that I
be connected, which frees my mind to make choices
based on other criteria.
If you have a computer only at work, you may
not need a separate "At Computer" list; "Office Actions" may
cover those actions because the office is the only place you can do
them anyway. (Similarly, if you have a computer only at home,
and it's not a laptop, you may be able to put computer-specific
actions on your "At Home" list.)"Errands" It makes a lot of sense to group together in one place
reminders of all the things you need to do when you're "out and
about." When you know you need to get in your car and go some-
where, it's great to be able to look at the list while you're on the
road. Actions like "Get stock certificates from safety-deposit box,"
Think carefully
about where and
howyou can and
can't do which
actions, and
organize your lists
accordingly.