Are you getting the RIGHT things done?
Peter Drucker once said, "There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." Far more vital than "doing things right," he said, is "doing the right things".
Every day, I review my task lists and choose the three "most vital tasks" for the day. My most vital tasks are those which advance my most vital objectives. My "MITs" go at the top of my list and I make an effort to do them before I do whatever business else. If I get these three things done, I consider it a excellent day.
Three is a excellent number, but sometimes there are only two. There are days when a fourth MIT slips through and makes it to my list, but I try to focus on no more than three.
Three MITs keeps me from getting overwhelmed by a longer list and gives me a sense of accomplishment. When I get my three MITs done, I then take care of less vital tasks. Or, if it's ahead of schedule in the day and I feel like it, I might add another MIT to the list.
At era, you may find it hard to choose three MITs. You may have ten things that MUST get done today. No problem. Of the ten, which three are the MOST IMPORTANT? Make those your MITs and do them first.
Each day, you will have MITs and you will have other tasks. The other tasks may be vital and need to be done. They may even be urgent. I'm not telling you to ignore these other tasks. Do them, but whenever doable, do them after you do your MITs.
The GTD methodology helps me to get things done. A daily list of MITs helps me to get the right things done.