How to Create a 'To-Don't' List: A Productivity Trick for Focusing On What Really Matters [Infographic]

Leslie Ye
Leslie Ye

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person writing a productivity 'to don't' list

When I got my first job, I was given one piece of advice over and over again: Say yes. Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, raise your hand for side projects, and generally go above and beyond.

Going above in your role is a great way to learn and grow. But sometimes, saying no is just as important. And while you're probably already familiar with the to-do list, there's another list out there that might be even more valuable.

The to-don't list, as its name suggests, itemizes all the things you won’t do throughout your day.

Developed by Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence, this tool helps you focus on what’s actually important and serves as a conscious reminder of what’s not.

So what does a to-don’t list actually look like? Use the guiding questions in the infographic below to create your own, and check out what Daniel Pink includes on his to-don’t list.

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