---
title: "Not To Do List"
id: "868"
type: "post"
slug: "not-to-do-list"
published_at: "2010-05-07T15:55:20+00:00"
modified_at: "2010-05-07T15:55:20+00:00"
url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/not-to-do-list/"
markdown_url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/not-to-do-list.md"
excerpt: "Here is something I landed on a few months ago. I can’t remember where I first heard the idea. Every day I start with a list of things I need to do. I’ve also started a list of things I......"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Productivity"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "not"
  - "todo lists"
---

[Skip to the content](#site-content)
[John Poelstra](https://johnpoelstra.com)

### Bringing order to chaos and clarity to confusion

- [One Conversation](https://johnpoelstra.com/)
- [Podcast](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/podcast/)
- [About](https://johnpoelstra.com/about/)

 Toggle search field

- [One Conversation](https://johnpoelstra.com/)
- [Podcast](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/podcast/)
- [About](https://johnpoelstra.com/about/)

# [Not To Do List](https://johnpoelstra.com/not-to-do-list/)

Here is something I landed on a few months ago. I can’t remember where I first heard the idea.

Every day I start with a list of things I need to do. I’ve also started a list of things *I will not do*. These are tasks or distractions that I find sabotage my time or don’t add anything to my work day. These are not *bad* things. In many cases they are fun and interesting. And yet they keep me from my core purpose. Some examples include: compulsive email checking, unimportant mailing lists, Twitter, personal email, and Google Reader (RSS feeds and blog reading).

There is something magical about being deliberate about the things that I *will not do*. I’ve found it adds more time to my work day and brings more satisfaction at the end.

What is on your “Not To Do List” for today?

#### John Poelstra

[Author archive](https://johnpoelstra.com/author/john-poelstra/)

May 7, 2010

[Productivity](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/productivity/)

[not](https://johnpoelstra.com/tag/not/)
, [todo lists](https://johnpoelstra.com/tag/todo-lists/)

[Previous post](https://johnpoelstra.com/fedora-13-end-game/)
[Next post](https://johnpoelstra.com/fedora-13-end-game-part-2/)

## 1 Comment

## [Add yours](#respond)

1. robinjohnsonsimpson[May 27, 2010 at 11:29 am](https://johnpoelstra.com/not-to-do-list/#comment-263) [Reply](#comment-263) Great post, John! Just read a very similar section last night in Seth Godin’s Linchpin. Feel the white space in your day. Stop scurrying on things that don’t matter. It’s not easy, though. [Reply](#comment-263)

### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](/not-to-do-list/#respond)

### John Poelstra

[https://johnpoelstra.com/?attachment_id=3756](https://johnpoelstra.com/?attachment_id=3756)

### Subscribe to Podcast

[Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-poelstra-show/id1130635146?mt=2&ls=1)
[Android](https://subscribeonandroid.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[by Email](https://subscribebyemail.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[RSS](https://johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)

### Links

- [About](https://johnpoelstra.com/about/)
- [Blog](https://johnpoelstra.com/blog/)
- [Podcast Production](https://johnpoelstra.com/podcast-production/)
- [Better Meetings](https://johnpoelstra.com/meetings)

### Subscribe to Podcast

[Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-poelstra-show/id1130635146?mt=2&ls=1)
[Android](https://subscribeonandroid.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[by Email](https://subscribebyemail.com/johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)
[RSS](https://johnpoelstra.com/feed/podcast/)

© 2026 [John Poelstra](https://johnpoelstra.com/)
 — Powered by [WordPress](http://www.wordpress.org)

Theme by [Anders Noren](https://andersnoren.se)
 — [Up ↑](#)