Ever feel like there's so much you want to do, but that you feel like you just don't have the time or the focus (or both) to get things done.  I was reminded tonight about this, and about how it's important to set goals, and to complete tasks towards reaching those goals. There's many different techniques for doing this, for planning, focusing and staying motivated (GTD, Pomodoro, simple TODO lists or checklists, Agile, Lean processes, Outlook tasks and reminders, etc.)

I used to think it was only important for work too. But then you think about chores, shopping, bills to pay, etc. - they all tasks that need to be done, and often require one to write them down or they get forgotten.

We all know about resolutions too - that's setting goals. Usually they're not goals though, they're simple things we know we can get through, or they're so unrealistic they never get done, or we write down things we struggle to do in the hopes that we get through it this year, but then don't get the motivation because of the challenges they bring.

The most important thing to getting things done, is to have a goal in mind, and split it into manageable chunks (whatever manageable is to you). Chunks that you can look at, and know exactly what to do, or know exactly where to go to find out what to do. You eat an elephant bite by bite, as the saying goes.

It's important to remember. Because otherwise we spend a lot of time on things we don't want to do, or can't do yet, and waste time. And time is a precious commodity, that you can never return or get back.