The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss - Latest Comments in The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Ben — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:53:47 -0000

Great insight Tim - brings that Ferris Bueller quote to mind: "life moves pretty fast.. if you don't stop and look around once in while, you could miss it." - He was a bit of life hacker.. at least when it came to beating the rules of high school. Take care -
Ben

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

RachelB — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:46:39 -0000

This is such a helpful list. Time is so precious, and emailing excessively can really eat up far too much time. Great advice on how to prioritize our lives and use our time wisely. Thank you!

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

edbennet — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:39:40 -0000

remove relationships with emotional vampire

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

DamienM — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:15:34 -0000

#10 Never handle the same piece of paper/email more than once.

#11 Only handle a paper document/email if you can finish the task you are about to start.

The two rules have worked greatly to avoid clutter and increase productivity/focus/quality over the last four years.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

AP — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:05:48 -0000

Oh and one more thing: Do not go to the office and socialize or get sucked into Facebook or other websites that can become time sucks. You should know what draws your attention away from work. Guilty.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

AP — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:00:28 -0000

I've been using myfax.com, http://tinyurl.com/czgx4q, to create digital copies of my real estate transactions. I have to hold on to the certain docs for a period of time, but just in case I don't get a chance to file it right away, i use myfax as my backup plan. I send myself contracts among other things so that it will create a pdf file to me to keep my clients updated.

This presents another problem for me though. Unnecessary paper begins to collect itself on my desk. Don't over organize as I do into neat piles. God for bid someone has to take over my lot; they might not know my system.

Do not save for later what should be organized today.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Claudia — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:45:02 -0000

If I am to add to the Not-To-Do list, it will have to be "Don't be jack of all trades."

I am a company writer and just because my deadlines are 2 days, a week, etc., some of my colleagues would ask me to do data-entry tasks when they're up against a deadline. I said no today with no explanation whatsoever. I mean I wouldn't ask any of them to write for me if I am up against my own deadlines.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Claudia — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:40:17 -0000

Hi, Tim!

I hope it's all right that I wrote a eensy-weensy article about your own article. The link to yours is actually in plain view in the article. It's your not-to-do list. I just had to share it with people who might happen by my blogsite. The blogsite actually belongs to my company, hence the plug at the bottom. But if you care to read it, I think you'll recognize it by the title: "I'm Not President Of The US!"

But your not-to-dos are helping me quite a lot. A number of those bad habits are mine, mostly because I did not even realize they were bad habits.

Again, thanks!

Claudia Garcia

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Anthony — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:26:36 -0000

Something I found helpful is not allowing myself to go to bed until I have sat down for at least 15 minutes and planned exactly what I 'm going to do the next day on paper.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Justin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:38:01 -0000

My father was the master of ignoring a ringing telephone. I remember him ignoring the phone whenever we were doing something important like having dinner. He had priority, nothing was going to interupt the family meal.

His actions left a huge impression on me which has served me well throughout my life. I love to ignore ringing phones during a conversation. I never break eye contact or lose concentration. The other person usually goes nuts. "Aren't you going to answer that?" I laugh to myself because people have become Pavlolv's dog. The phone rings and people instantly reach for it.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Gerard McLean — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:54:10 -0000

#10 Never, ever, ever read the comments after a blog post, especially when there are 158 of them. At least 40% will be "Great post", another 40% will be "Go to MY blog" and 18% will be "Blah, blah, blah not so the point." leaving only 2% worth reading -- mine and ..well.. mine...

Cool dog. And go to MY dog's blog [LOL -- nice try! Close :) ]

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Anthony Jones — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:43:40 -0000

You have been a eye opener, Tim. I am gradually going to be using a few of your tips into my practice as, quite frankly, it is the only way to make it in today’s environment. Thanks a ton.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Joshua Moore — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:35:39 -0000

As a Gen Y entrepreneur I personally find these issues so important, but so hard to follow up on. The best way to master them I find is to focus on one for a week, then once you have mastered it continue onto the next one.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Maria — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:19:31 -0000

Just took a time management class..and this was one of my AHAs. To add to your list STOP TWITTERING CONSTANTLY!

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Dan Root — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:14:26 -0000

One more for the list... love your site Tim.

The NY Times just released a study that happier people don't watch TV. I can attest to this.

I went over 5 years (in my 20's) living in Los Angeles...no TV. It was incredibly liberating and I would recommend that everyone take at least a month off just to see what it's like. You FIND TIME to do all kinds of things that you "never had time for."

It's tough to just "not watch." For best results, remove it all together.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Kelly Magowan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:34:49 -0000

I discovered you post via the Anthill Blog and really enjoyed it and the points you raise are so right. I am a crackberry addict (and am okay with this) and work too much (but enjoy it so not really work). I think point Number 3 is a great one and is something that I have recently identified and been working on to address. Having clearly defined meetings and identifying the focus up front (or if there actually is one) is a smart use of your time.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Robert Edwards — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:36:09 -0000

One problem with trying to restrict how often you check your email is that when you need to send an email, you always see there is new mail.

Writing a new message is not that same as checking your incoming messages, but most always both get done. Its just too damn temping to peek in to your inbox when you see there is new message sitting there.

I keep my e-mail client minimized all day long until it is the appropriate/scheduled times to check my mail. I write emails without using the email client, to do this I made a new icon for just composing fresh emails. And keep the Icon in my tool bar. Works slick, i write dozens o emails a day without being temped to check what messages are in my inbox.

To make this icon, Right click on the desk top select New Shortcut. Enter in "mailto:" You can change the icon in the settings. I have dragged the icon to the toobar from the desk top.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Sean Chua — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:46:47 -0000

Great Post Tim!

I am currently reading your book and sure i am learning something to make myself more productive.

My new found and confirmed NOT-TO-DO List will be:

1) Not to answer phone each time when it rings (as thou i will die without that call)

2) Not to rattle on and build "too much a relationship" especially when the caller is unknown to me

3) Not to wake up in morning and read newspapers or check soccernet immediately

4) Not to check my emails several times a day

5) Not to procrastinate and leave the toughest tasks to the last

6) Not to multi-tasks many thins at one time

7) Not to chat online (MSN) with friends and clients when i am doing something online

8) Not to watch FREE online Movies too often without control

9) Not to Not Plan my activities or tasks to complete the following day

PS: I am reading the outsourcing portion in your book now...and i am really thinking of outsourcing most of my not-so-critical stuff out...

PPS: Understand you check your email every Monday..Hope you read all these comments once per week minimum also...Hope to hear something from you...

Cheers,
Sean

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Bobby Rio — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:43:17 -0000

There should be an email addiction center... I try desperately to only check two or three times a day... but its harder to quit than smoking!!!

Any recommendations?

I usually last like 2 days of being good.. then go back to my old habits of every 30 minutes or so...

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Yoyo — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:13:20 -0000

Do not do anything if someone else can, exept if may affect you with more than $50 your in/out cash balance ratio. Note. I will not be surprised if some of this comments will be in the author next book.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Bruce — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:13:57 -0000

Tim;
Maybe #10 thing to stop doing is: filling your life with noise. Every once in a while, turn everything off, and I mean everything. Listen to the silence. Think! Crazy as it sounds, you're not wasting time doing this.

Obviously, you can't do this all the time, but at least once a week, shut it all down. Sort of a variant on "The low information diet".

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Violet — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:39:04 -0000

Yeah, I found that I was also an e-mail addiction, and checked e- mail everytime. But I found that was wasting time. So I won't do that any longer.
Just do as Tim said..Haha,,

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Charles Koestler — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:10:00 -0000

Tim,

Being that I help Business Owner everyday, I agree with your outline. I have already read the book. I believe the key thing I would tell everyone is you have to control your business not let it control you.

The best advice you give that has worked for myself is the emails in the morning. I am still working on the night ones. Ihave found if you don't answer emails first thing and you schedule then your day goes much better.

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Chris McClatchey — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:43:23 -0000

Tim, I couldn't agree more. I was one of these people that had to be "in touch" at all times. I had a blackberry and a 2nd cell phone, I had wireless internet from my phone carrier in case I couldn't open documents on my blackberry, I had 2 email addresses and probably checked each one 10 times a day. I read your book, bought your CDs and implemented your processes and my life has changed dramatically. I am down to 1 cell phone, I got rid of my blackberry and only check email 3 times per day. I am working on trying to check even less. I thought if I wasn't connected, I wasn't accomplishing anything. Quite the contrary. I now accomplish 10x as much without being connected. Thanks again!!!

Chris McClatchey
The Housing Market, LLC

Re: The Not-To-Do List: 9 Habits to Stop Now

Billion Dollar Income — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:40:30 -0000

Brilliant list - Yes time crutches are such a huge waste of time. I'll be implementing your list right away!