Comments on: How big is your backlog?

By: sweska

sweska — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:30:50 +0000

- organising my trip photos… think that takes time as well!
- books to read
- receipt collations

By: Michael Purpura

Michael Purpura — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:26:13 +0000

All of them are things that either take more than a certain amount of time or that require spending more than a certain amount of money, or both.

By: Wendywindflowers

Wendywindflowers — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:53:16 +0000

Tasks that are non-urgent and require thought/concentration, such as:

-Books to read (a popular one!)
-Re-design my filing system
-Darning clothing
-Things to buy (such as books, if I need to decide which would be the best books on a certain topic, and from where)

Some of these To-Dos have been hanging around for years! I guess in most cases I’m putting it off just to avoid the decision-making process!

By: Ade C

Ade C — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:42:59 +0000

I’ve got a backlog as long as my arm. There are tasks which are on the someday/maybe list (which is turning out to be more of a “probably not” list).

I feel like “Statler and Waldorf” from the muppets: It’s a great idea put it on the list; it’s an okay idea I’ll get around to it sometime; it’s not that good; it’s a horrendous idea.”

The list includes things list:

* Watch “essential” training webinars and company updates (from 2 years ago?)
* Tidy garage (been on the list for several years probably since shortly after moving house)
* Keep in contact with (now not-so) close friends
* General DIY tasks

By: Jim Sewell

Jim Sewell — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:08:12 +0000

For me it is anything not “now”. I sometimes wonder if I’m ADD because I’m like the cows in the race on the commercial – “I’m gonna win! I’m going to win this time! Oh, daisies!”

Being somewhat of a go-to person on and off the job means many are making requests for things to be done all the time. The most recent typically replaces all others unless it’s low priority, in which case it gets forgotten.

Lack of discipline and focus makes a list useless for following what to do next. It only reminds me of what I didn’t do *if* I get the time to look at it. If it is more than 5 minutes old and I didn’t put it on a calendar or list it’s gone… much like Erin said.

If I did keep a list regularly it would have personal web site updates, make out a proper budget, tie up loose ends I left in haste – especially in the programs I write for work, etc.

By: Kate Olson

Kate Olson — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:16:55 +0000

My backlog tends to be things that I REALLY don’t want to do, like paying bills, balancing the checkbook, cleaning my office. I don’t bother putting anything on my to-do list if it doesn’t NEED to be done, so a bill that’s due gets on the list, but cleaning my office doesn’t. As for other work, anything that’s not paying work gets pushed off until I have time free for it.

By: Dino

Dino — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:47:12 +0000

When I realised that stuff was getting on my backlog at the end of the day (because of lack of time/motivation to do so), I’d start relegating those to the weekend, exclusively. That is, about a year ago, I noticed that I never cook slow cooking things, like beans, during the week. Even though I have a crock pot, I’d have to set it in the morning, season it at night, and freeze any leftovers. Even if I had extra time on the morning, I’d end up spending it on making a more elaborate breakfast, or catching up on other weekday stuff.

Other such trends I noticed were emails to old friends, phone calls to mom (outside of the 5 minute ones, that is), getting small appliances repaired, and any proof reading work for my writing.

I don’t put these sorts of things on my daily to-do list anymore, because I find that it just leaves me feeling frustrated that I can never seem to get to them in a timely fashion. Instead, I put them on my weekend to-do list. Since it is my days off, I don’t feel bad if I don’t get to them, but I do feel good if I finish any of them.

By: People Skills Pro

People Skills Pro — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:41:49 +0000

Backlog of To do’s? I could fill a few PAGES of stuff…
But here’s some in no particular order: household handyman stuff, clean out garage, low priority networking follow-up, previous client follow-up, business expansion projects, web site additions/revisions…

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:49 +0000

Neatening up my Outlook (contact duplicates, fixing calendar, deleting old to dos). Visiting social networking sites where I have profiles and seeing what’s going on. Around the house repairs.

By: Diana L-S

Diana L-S — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:58:34 +0000

For me it’s usually:

Books to Read
Personal Site Redesign/Updating
Larger projects that would take several weeks or months
Replying back to emails that take more than a few lines.