The Done List

Show up at work on time six months in a row and we’ll talk about red curry paste and lemongrass. Until then, I have four words for you: “Shut the fuck up.”

–Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential

Does your daily schedule look something like this?

10:00 Sit down to write.

10:05 Check e-mail.

10:10 Surf the web.

10:45 Check e-mail.

11:00 Start writing.

11:15 Pay bills online.

11:45 Check e-mail.

12:00 Break for lunch.

1:00 Sit down to write.

1:30 Tidy up office. Decide that it is inefficient.

1:45 Research new organization methods online.

2:00 Implement the new system you found. It’s slightly more optimal than the last.

3:00 Feel ashamed at your lack of meaningful progress.

3:05 Research ways to overcome procrastination. Again. Surf Amazon and compare relevant books, settling on The One Surefire Solution.

I’m guessing that’s not what you had written down “to do.” That list was probably more like this:

1. Write Chapter 4.
2. Check and respond to e-mails.
3. Pay bills online.
4. Clean and organize office.

Here’s a tip: Keep your list. But divide it into two columns, or add another sheet. Your old list gets the same heading: “To Do.” The new list?

“Done.”

And under that heading, you have to write down everything you actually did, no matter how small, as long as it was a change of task.

Forget about other little productivity tricks and “lifehacks” for the time being. The goal of this blog is to build a house; a place to do our work. So don’t fret over the fucking wallpaper until we pour the foundation.

Once you start separating intentions and results, you will understand what productivity is. If anything, you’ll get tired of writing a new entry for every little pointless thing, because that wastes even more time. Most importantly, now you’ll see it. I’m betting that the two lists will gradually coincide, until they match. This is our foundation.

And if you think you’re too talented an artist to worry about this stuff, that lists and measurement belong in the realm of soulless businessmen, read the introductory quote again and stop kidding yourself: Your art is business. Start treating it with the same rigor.