The pen has incredible power. History has shown that it has the ability to take people to the highest of levels. It also has been used to completely destroy individuals. There is an old saying that claims 'the pen is mightier than the sword'. Regardless of the validity of this statement, it is universally agreed that putting things in writing is extremely helpful.



People often complain about having too much to do. They seem to operate in a continual state of overwhelm. This causes them to move at a frenzied pace, going from one activity to another. Resting is something they have a difficult time doing since there is always so much more to be done. Their entire lives are spent handling the 'crisis of the moment'. Unfortunately, the more that these people accomplish, the further behind they get. It is a vicious cycle that steals joy and fulfillment.

Certain individuals suffer from the inability to prioritize. They spend a great amount of time getting things done, yet rarely make any difference. Their tendency is to focus on the activities that have a smaller impact. This is similar to the 'crisis' focus previously mentioned. This person will handle whatever arises regardless of what else needs to be done. The major activities are forgotten until they become urgent. Again, a frenzied situation results.

Getting in the habit of writing everything down helps you overcome these challenges. People who are in a state of overwhelm choose to be that way. How we feel is a choice that we make. Unfortunately, for those who are overwhelmed with all that they need to do, it usually is not based in reality. It only seems that there is an astronomical amount to do. An easy way to overcome this is to write down everything that needs to be done. The list can be as long as it needs to be while making sure everything is included. Most realize that they do not have as much to do as they initially thought, Once this is understood, it is much easier to remain free of the feeling of overwhelm.

Putting the activities requiring attention in writing also aids in the prioritizing. Once everything is down on paper, one can begin to plan. Those tasks that have the most impact will be obvious. So, too,will those that do not have much of an effect. Our days are more productive when we are able to tend to important items first. Most find that they cannot do everything on their list in a given day. By concentrating on those with the greatest impact, we are able to move our lives forward at a quicker pace. It is more important to pay the mortgage than to fold the dirty socks. Exercising will do more for us than watching the movie we recorded last night. Spending time with our loved ones has a greater payoff than cleaning the attic. It something must be left incomplete, make sure it is something that is not so critical.

Operating from a list in writing increases productivity substantially. It is especially true when coupled with one of our techniques called the 'mini-blitz'. This strategy involves taking 3-5 items off your master list and setting aside a time to handle them. These activities can be done quickly yet have enough importance to create negative consequences if left unattended. All the items are handled in the order they are listed. This technique can usually be done in under 15 minutes. It is a terrific way to complete those smaller activities that we need to attend to.

Increasing productivity while reducing the feeling of overwhelm is the main benefit of writing things down. People trust us because we do not forget to do things that we promised. Our careers are more successful when we develop the reputation as someone 'who gets things done'. This simple act consistently improves the quality of our lives.