Life is busy and it is not going to slow down any time soon. A world of facsimiles, the World Wide Web, email, and even fast food, has created a culture where people want things done now. Patience is an increasingly harder virtue to find. This pressure to achieve endless tasks in the shortest amount of time possible tends to have a destructive impact on workers' attitudes and their ability to perform to expectations.

Daily 'to-do' lists are a commonly known tool, but one that many do not choose to utilize. Used properly, they help off-set the negativity of large workloads by allowing a person to focus on specific tasks.

Viewed against the larger backdrop of work, getting those few duties done may show little physical difference on a desk - new work comes in; completed files remain around in anticipation of the next stage; filing jobs continue mounting. No desk contains only a single day's tasks, and studying the broader workload creates an illusion of not having achieved anything substantial. However, when we employ a daily task sheet we gain a sense of accomplishment. It provides a mental dispatch of the job from the pile, even if the paperwork still clutters the view.

Pre-made pads are available to purchase, or as freebie promotions from companies, but a simple pad made from recycled photocopy paper will do just as well. With the tools sorted, it then only takes five minutes first thing each morning to prepare a list of tasks for the day. I recommend doing it daily so that each day begins with a clean slate and a series of achievable goals. Breaking it down into daily bites increases productivity while also creating a better frame of mind at the end of each day. A better attitude and positive outlook means a stable, happier work life.

When writing a list, add the tasks in order of their urgency, or rank them with a number according to importance. Be realistic and include only those tasks you would expect to be able to complete in one day, allowing some room to move in the list to cope with interruptions or shifting priorities.

I also recommend placing one segment of a long-term goal, or less urgent goal, on the list. This helps combat the feeling of only ever dealing with emergencies. If the project is to compile a report, with comparative graphs, demonstrating toy sales in 2006, then start with just a small part. This could be a task as simple as retrieving the necessary files, setting up the basic spreadsheet, or entering a chosen number of records into the database.

As each goal is completed, cross it off or place a check mark beside it. At the end of each day, throw the list away. This generates a physical and emotional distance from any tasks left incomplete. If tackled in order of importance there is unlikely to be any feelings of guilt over not having completed one of the lesser tasks.

A daily list must be dynamic, comprised each morning with the priorities for the day, and then expanded as fresh, urgent jobs develop. Used every day, this method will soon result in a much more accurate and healthy view of the overall workload.

From my own experience there were days I simply would have drowned under the deluge of work if I did not focus my thinking with a 'to-do' list. Piles of work are vague and deceptive. By quantifying work and applying realistic daily limits we gain a sense of accomplishment and a happier working life. Daily tasks sheets are a quick, simple, and effective key to achieving more goals and more satisfaction.