Daily Checklist (to-do-list)

I use a checklist (a standardized to-do-list) every work day. It can make some days boring and predictable but it does keep me more-or-less on task which is something I’ve had trouble with since childhood. Nothing makes a difference in my routines like those daily checklists.

My accountability partners get a copy of this form every week.

Here’s a sample day with an explanation of the various entries.

WEDNESDAY:_________________

AM Routine

Put the Garbage out

Morning Prayer

Walk the dog

Check schedule and plan the Day

MIT

Work the To-Do List

Back Exercise

Greek

Sermon Preparation

Tie up all loose-ends for day off

Workout

Read 2+ Pages of serious theology

Pastoral Care

Empty Voice Mail

Write Bulletin.

Empty email

No computer until 7 items are done

Evening Prayer

PM routine

Review and Log

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Things to Do Every Day

AM Routine: Regular stuff which I do every morning having to do with body and house. The body stuff is not so hard, but the house stuff is easy for me to neglect (make bed before I leave, and a decluttering exercise I try to do each day). I will cross off this item only if I do everything in my routine.

Morning Prayer: My morning time of Bible reading and prayer, including prayer for the church list. I like this to be done before 10 but at least before 12.

MITs: These are the Most Important Tasks (MIT) for that day. Every morning I choose between 1 and 3 things that must be done that day, write them down and do them. I only mark this as done if everything is done by the end of the day.

Check schedule and plan the day: 5 minutes in the early morning where I check on my appointments for the day, look at my to-do-list, plan the activities of the day, choose the Most Important Tasks for that day, write it all down, and commit my activities and the people I will meet to God in a quick prayer.

Work the To-Do-List: I have a master to-do-list. Everything goes in it. Everyday I want to work on some of the tasks listed.

Walk the Dog: We have a young puppy. She needs exercise and I have to do my part. This is about a 20 minute walk, usually in the morning.

Back Exercise: I have a bad back which, in the past, has been a real problem. But I have discovered that a simple 5-10 minute routine keeps my back healthy. It’s important that I do this routine almost every day.

Greek: I try to read the New Testament in Greek every day. Just a few minutes, not including sermon prep. It’s a skill I need to keep up.

Read 2+ pages of serious theology: That’s just keeping up with the tools of my vocation. This doesn’t include reading done for the sermon preparation.

Sermon Preparation: This is obviously a big part of my work. I do some every day but each day is a bit different. On Monday my only goal is to make a start, even if it’s a small start. On Friday I want to be finish the sermon by tea time (4-5pm).

Pastoral Care: This could be a visit, a phone call, a note, etc. I want to do at least one PC action every day.

No computer until 7 items are done: Don’t get on the computer until at least 7 items are crossed off my daily list. If this item is NOT crossed off it’s not necessarily a bad thing but it’s better if it doesn’t happen too often.

Empty Voice Mail: Listen to voice mail messages and respond appropriately.

Empty email: Appropriately respond to, archive or delete every email I get.

Evening Prayer: Evening devotional time of Bible and prayer. This doesn’t happen every day but I would like it to happen on most days. It should definitely happen if I’ve missed my Morning Prayer time.

PM Routine: Taking the time to prepare for bed appropriately. If this item is NOT done it probably means that I crashed into bed at the end of the day. That’s OK once in a while but it shouldn’t be a habit.

Review and Log: Take a few minutes at the end of the day to review the day and journal important things, people, events, etc.

Art Break: This is simply a reminder for me to take a short break (about 15 minutes). Drawing, painting or fooling around with the guitar relaxes me. It doesn’t matter if I do this or not but if I never do it it’s probably not a good sign.

Things done on specific days

Update Church Website  (Monday): Few things look more shabby than a website that hasn’t been updated in a long time. I update our website and Twitter feed every Monday. It only takes 2-3 minutes. (The website is the main way visitors find out about us).

Workout (M-W-F): Lifting, etc..

Load Podcasts for the week (Monday): I try and redeem the time by listening selectively to radio I want to listen to. I do this by downloading selected radio programs (podcasts) to my MP3 player.

Choose Music for Sunday (Tuesday): I have to get my music choices to our musicians early in the week. I pick the opening and closing songs. She chooses the rest.

Write/Send the Bulletin (Wednesday and Friday): Write the bulletin, announcements, etc. I don’t finalize it until Friday in case there are late announcements.

Tie up all loose-ends before day off (Wednesday): Tidy things up so that nothing will have to be done on Thursday, my day off.

Put the Garbage Out (Wednesday): Self-explanatory. Put it out before I leave on Wednesday (I hate forgetting this!)

Sermon Done by Tea Time (Friday): Be done with writing the sermon by 4 or 5 pm on Friday.

Things done whenever between Monday and Friday

Pastoral Walk: I walk the length of downtown with an attitude (and a prayer) that I am ready to chat and pray for anyone. This has often led to important ministry. I want to do this at least once a week

Write Prayers for Sunday: I write an outline for Sunday prayers.

Walk through Hospital and Manor: This usually results in ministry to people. I should do this at least every week.

Run (x3): I am not currently running regularly but my goal is to do it 2 or 3 times a week.