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Use Completed Task Lists As Motivators Or Artwork

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Use Completed Task Lists As Motivators Or Artwork

Now here’s something a little different than what you might normally hear concerning productivity and task lists. The David constantly states that during the GTD sweep, it’s imperative that we throw away our crusty old tasks, projects, and even contexts once they’re spent. The guys at Behance have a different idea.

Instead of tossing away your task lists that you’ve put blood, sweat and tears into, why not put them on display to motivate yourself into action on future projects?

Why not decorate your work space with completed action steps? While we tend to surround ourselves with art and imagery that serves to inspire us in our work, is it more inspiration that we need? Most creative professionals report that they are not short of ideas, but rather the discipline and organization to make them happen. For this reason, consider surrounding yourself with testaments to taking action.

Although I was a bit hesitant when I first read the article, the idea has grown on me somewhat. It does kind of seem like a shame that I can’t proudly display what I’ve been working on as a badge of honor. I can just see myself hanging my best “dones” on the wall, and giving tours with an Australian accent.

“And this little project I bagged on the 14th hour of a Monday in mid-March. What a beaut!”

Or maybe not. But it is fun to think about. How about you guys? How would you display your completed tasks?

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  • http://www.teknicks.net/blog/2007/07/12/motivation-decorate-your-walls-with-done-items/ Motivation: Decorate your walls with done items : Teknicks Blog

    [...] It ain’t pretty, but it does radiate that accomplished sense of “look how far we’ve come.” What do you do with your checked-off tasks? Let us know in the comments. Tip: Surround Yourself with Progress [Behance via LifeDev] [...]

  • http://www.gigapromoters.com Abhimanyu Grover

    Hmmm, I think that will make me feel a bit tired and will do negative effect… Maybe that’s just me.. From my current to-do’s I throw them immediately when a page is filled or so, to start with a fresh list..

    If I ever look at a whole filled page, it makes me think as if I’ve done a lot and should take rest.

  • http://www.onejobtwosalaries.com/ William Profet :: OneJobTwoSalaries.com

    I think this would be a great motivator! Reviewing your successes every time you look at the wall will boost your motivation.

    This is a good idea and I am going to use it!

    Thank you and good luck!
    William

  • glen

    That’s not a bad point Abhimanyu. It kind of hurts my eyes looking at the above picture ;)

  • http://www.chicawithissues.com/?p=66 One Snarky Chica with Issues » Blog Archive » Link roundup week of 7/8 – 7/14

    [...] Use Completed Task Lists As Motivators Or Artwork at LifeDev [...]

  • http://www.escritoriololi.blogspot.com Loli

    The Task Lists on the wall won’t be decorative, but if you translate that into objectives and keep records with statistics and graphs, will be a motivator. Will tell you whether you’re on track or not. I would prefer to show nicer graphics…

  • glen

    Heh, yeah me too. I guess I just don’t take as much pride in writing them down like these guys do. That’s a big motivator for saving them…

  • http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/ Matthew Cornell

    I like it! Maybe putting up something representing *projects* would make sense, say images from a magazine?

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