What’s The Best Type of Task?

Do you have a daily task list? How many do you actually complete? Do you like some more than others? What’s the best type of task?

If I asked, “What’s your favorite kind of task?” you might say:

• A task that is fun.
• A task that is easy.
• Something I don’t have to do.
• The task that I can do quickly.
• A task that gives me a great feeling when it’s done.
• Something that I get complimented for doing.
• A task I can complete without needing anyone else.
• A task I remember to do.

These are all fair answers. I enjoy quick, easy wins as much as anyone. There’s a certain satisfaction in knocking out several tasks in a short burst, such as running errands, where a few stops can turn into a long list of checkmarks. Of course, we all face tasks we’d rather avoid. If I asked about your least favorite, you might say:

One that is difficult (physically, mentally, or emotionally).

• A chore that is boring.
• A task I don’t know how to do.
• A task that I feel I don’t have enough time to successfully complete.
• Something I have to work on with other people, especially people who are critical, impatient, bossy, or disinterested.
• A task that has to be endlessly repeated.
• An invisible task that requires a lot of effort for little reward.
• A task I know will be criticized, regardless of my effort.
• A task I forgot and now have to go back and do.
• A task I am avoiding.

All of these reactions make sense. Recently, I worked with a client on paying her bills. She felt overwhelmed by the volume and just wanted it done. I validated her feelings, because much of what we do in life simply isn’t fun.

When faced with a list of “undesirables,” it’s easy to slip into avoidance or disengagement. We start longing for escape–or even retirement. But eliminating tasks altogether isn’t a path to happiness. Why? Because there is great satisfaction in completing things, especially if we do them well. Using our gifts and talents meaningfully is one of the pleasures of life.

I’ve spoken with retirees about this. While reduced pressure can be a relief, too little to do can create its own problem. Without purpose, identity can erode. Even hobbies can start to feel like obligations when they become the main structure of your day.

The challenge, then, is to more closely align what you have to do with what you want to do.

Let’s consider a couple of possible strategies.

Manage Your Expectations

If you expect your tasks or your job to feel fulfilling, you’ll likely be disappointed. Work (paid or unpaid) is called “work” for a reason. Most people have to do a bunch of stuff that isn’t particularly appealing. That’s just life.

Social media and braggadocios friends/coworkers can make it seem like everyone else is constantly fulfilled and productive. They’re not. Don’t add unnecessary pressure by comparing your reality to a highlight reel. Instead, cultivate a positive mindset toward the tasks you need to perform.

Build in a Sense of Accomplishment

Most people long for affirmation and recognition of effort. It makes us feel good when someone notices what we’ve done or gives us positive feedback. Sadly, much of what we do will go unacknowledged. Sometimes, it will be criticized.

It is important to find ways to generate your own sense of accomplishment. Set goals you can be proud of achieving, whether that’s sustained focus, finishing a specific number of tasks, or finally tackling something you’ve been avoiding.

Since you have no control over external validation, it’s wise to minimize its importance in your productivity.

Get Yourself Started

The best type of task is typically one you actually complete, and you can’t complete a task without first beginning. Many people struggle with initiating tasks.

The onus for getting started will typically fall on you. There is no shame in doing whatever it takes to get yourself started, including:

• Setting an alarm to remind yourself to take action.
• Paring down a complex task into small, low-barrier-to-entry pieces.
• Asking for help when you don’t know how to begin.
• Seeking accountability from another person who, at your request, will check in to make sure you are following through.
• Setting a timer for how long you will require yourself to stay focused.
• Moving yourself into a physical setting where it is easier for you to work on your task list.
• Taking medication (under medical supervision) that helps you focus.

Arrange Tasks in Priority Order

Checking off a bunch of tasks feels good, but it won’t feel great if the most important ones remain untouched. As you consider what needs to be done, ask yourself, “Which of these will I feel best about completing?”

Candidates for top priority tasks include:

• Things with a near-term deadline
• Tasks that others need me to do in order to complete their tasks.
• Things that impact physical health, of you, or others who depend on you.
• Chores that will be expensive to avoid.
• Tasks you need to get done before you can move onto a next step.

I’d like to say start with what makes you happy, but this approach may result in avoidance of what is truly important. At the end of the day, you want to feel like you used your time as wisely as you could.

Also, as you consider where to focus your energy, remember that no one sustains peak performance all day. The point of setting priorities is to make the most of the time and energy you have. Typically, this will look like an ebb and flow of effort over the course of a day, tackling the hardest tasks when you are most alert.

Eliminate What You Can

When our task list feels overwhelming, the first step is to cull whatever you can. Just as a room can become overrun by clutter, a list of chores and appointments can be overpowering. In fact, sometimes its enormity can be paralyzing.

This situation can have many causes, and it isn’t a simple problem to solve. It’s not like you can just tell your baby to change her own diapers or tell your boss that you are opting out of performing certain aspects of your job.

The most effective strategy I’ve seen is to be as ruthless as possible in removing anything unnecessary. For example:

• Resign from volunteer commitments that have become burdensome.
• Ask for help (don’t assume anyone notices you need it).
• Hire help if you can afford it.
• Delegate what you can to others.
• Set aside extracurricular activities that are taking too much energy.
• Declutter your physical belongings to make it easier to work in your space.
• Simplify wherever you can (outfits, meal plans, etc.)

Remember, some stages of life are more intense than others. Just because you choose to remove an item from your list today doesn’t mean you will never return it, only that you don’t have time for it right now.

Focus on the Future You

A good task is one we complete. However, often we don’t feel that sense of satisfaction until a point in the future. In the current moment, all we see is work.

I loved this graphic I saw on social media.

It highlights a simple truth: we choose our hard. Do we want to do the hard thing now or later? One takeaway from this graphic for me was that when I choose the “Easy Now” option, I am not only postponing the hard part to the future, but that I may have to dig out of a tough position to get going. The “starting point” can be tougher the longer we wait.

When we are waffling on doing a task, it helps to focus on how great it will feel in the future to have it completed. For instance:

• Have the coffee pot set up and ready to go when you come down in the morning so all you have to do is push “start.”
• Reset objects in your space before you leave the house, so it feels orderly and inviting when you return.
• Triage the mail as soon as you bring it in so it doesn’t build up.
• Knock out your toughest task early in the day so the day gets easier as you go along.
• Schedule your “extras” on Mondays or Tuesdays so the week gets less stressful as the days unfold.
• Run the errand while you are out so you can relax when you get home and not feel the pressure to go back out later.

Celebrate Showing Up

Wouldn’t it be nice if every effort we made had a successful outcome. If we could point at a task and think, “That went so well!” Unfortunately, this won’t always be the case. Sometimes our efforts won’t go as planned. In other cases, we may get pushback or criticism. Often, the impact of our efforts may only become evident over a long period of time. It’s easy to become discouraged.

I encourage clients to value effort over outcomes. Effort is within your control; results often aren’t.

The best tasks are the ones you do. You may not be perfect, but you show up. You may not feel like doing them, but you do them anyway. When you show up, you prove to yourself and communicate to others that you are reliable. Showing up builds confidence. It empowers.

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The ability to take action isn’t a burden, it is an opportunity. Which tasks would you describe as your “best?”