Should You Have a Not To-Do List?

Most people have a to-do list. It’s tough to be efficient and remember everything you need to do without one. 

Few people have a not-to-do list. Yet benefits are obvious: 

• it’s a way to eliminate bad habits and time wasters.
• it’s a way to help you delegate things you don’t need to do.
• it’s a way to focus on the important.
• it’s a way to regain control of your time.
• it’s a way to become aware of the things you clearly should stop.
  

Here are a few ideas to help you decide if a not-to-do list is for you: 

Personal:

• I will not give in to negativity.
• I will not have my phone at the dinner table.
• I will not go to bed after midnight.
• I will not check FB, PM and IM every 5 minutes.
• I will not answer calls from unknown phone numbers.
  

Time management:

• I will not listen to the news.
• I will not spend more than 30 minutes on social media per day.
• I will not check my email before 10 am.
• I will not watch more than 1 hour of TV per day.
• I will not waste time on XYZ.
  

Health:

• I will not drink soda.
• I will not eat after 8 pm.
• I will not take the elevator.
• I will not smoke from now on.
• I will not eat junk food.

Practice:

• I will not gossip.
• I will not take client comments personally.
• I will not attend meetings without a clear agenda.
• I will stop saying “I’ll write in that record later” (i.e. do it now).
• I will not get an ulcer every time a constipated client leaves a bad review I don’t deserve.
  

Financial:

• I will not buy on impulse.
• I will not take on (more) personal debt.
• I will not invest in penny stocks.
• I will not follow stock advice in chat rooms.
• I will not follow investing advice from non-experts.
  

The decisions you make will greatly help you say “no” more often. 

A not-to-do list is a great way to stop chasing shiny objects, doing things you should never be doing and wasting time you can’t afford to waste. It’s a simple but powerful way to focus on what truly matters to you.

Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Meredith Jones, DVM
Co-Founders of Veterinary Financial Summit