Crossing items off a to-do list gives the brain a dopamine bump, and that pleasant feeling encourages people to repeat behaviors. Achieving goals
* See the goal–visualize it and write it down.
* Touch on something to do with the goal every day.
* Think about how the last step taken toward the goal went.
* Adjust the plan, if necessary.
* Reward oneself in small ways to maintain motivation.
* Repeat until the goal has been achieved.
Another trick for achieving goals is to use the “5D” system. Under this system, each item on a to-do list is placed into one of five categories:
Do: Stuff that can be checked off the list today.
Delegate: Stuff that needs to be done today or soon and can be passed along to a subordinate.
Delay: Items that can be pushed off for now (items should not stay here for more than four days).
Discard: Items that can be removed from the list.
Dream: This is a big goal to achieve in one’s lifetime. This item should go on the bottom of every new to-do list going forward.