Do you have time for it all? Introducing the Commitment Inventory 

One of my categories I need to get rid of is sitting on the sofa watching RU-vid vids!

I like the graphical representation of time and how it make you prioritize.

The Todoist newsletter is by far the most worthwhile "marketing" email I get in my inbox. Hands down. No competition. I read it every month and get something out of it each time. Looks like the Todoist RU-vid videos are going to be of the same quality! Well done!

for myself categories i need to spend more time on is definitely DOING the tasks and what i need to spend less time on is getting lost in the chaos, distracted or overwhelmed! i have this habit of trying to find the best way to do something (for example trying to establish a productivity system) i go down the rabbit hole, get so distracted it becomes 10 other things that I'm trying to do at once, takes much longer... brutal lol

Commitment Inventory I have always been the kind of person who meticulously categorizes every aspect of my life, breaking down everything into new projects linked to the main areas. After a good five years, I had an incredibly extensive and ingrained system. It's fascinating when we have the most important areas well categorized, especially the less significant ones. However, what I learned the hard way is not to mistake a ROBUST system for a GIGANTIC one. The system, even if the areas are visually well-established, is designed to be VISUAL. It's crucial that the system is integrated with the way we think. The primary projects should have very few or almost no connected projects, like offspring, because our tendency is to create link after link, forming connections until the system becomes an unruly elephant. This is where we must applaud Todoist for its simplicity and brilliance. The system needs to be quick and highly effective, allowing us to spend the least amount of time on it. Despite its commendable nature, the system is not an end in itself; it is the means through which we can do the work that truly matters.

Every time I have felt overwhelmed, I re-examine my commitments. In the past I sad yes too much and tried to do it all myself. This looks like a great system for me.

I love the editing and overall production of this video. Great job team!

I’m not sure how you’ve managed to make productivity videos both informative and adorable, but here you go again. 😂 Thanks for the great material and the hard work that goes into making these available. 🙏🏼

Spend less time on - random busy work that doesn't progress me forward in the big picture. Spend more time on - personal projects that bring joy and help my skills grow. Get rid of - those tasks that live on your list for months and when you final do it it only takes you 5 minutes (we all know the ones like that lol) Love the videos! Thanks for sharing!

this is wonderful! Thank you, Naomi for producing such and concise videos. I saw this specifically after you mentioned it and you’re getting started with GTD video. i’ve been using modified GTD for about eight years now, and it keeps me sane, although I’m having trouble actually finishing all the tasks and finding myself with pages of unfinished tasks each week, and then things move forward, but I don’t get enough time to go back through the numerous pages. I often times think I need to take a couple weeks off each year just to go through the past tasks. I would like to know more about how to handle copious unfinished past tasks.

Thank you for the video!

+ Categories - reading(esp books I currently have 😅), nature/park walks, leaving work on time - Categories > mindless scrolling, not prepping before work day, not speaking up more Thank you for sharing this concept 👍🏼🎄

I havemt mentioned it yet but i enjoy the bloopers section at the end if each vid. This also seems like a good system to remind yourself that you only have so much time. I like that you are covering different systems of productivity right now, and eventually feel free to move on to other topics out there.

Naomi, you're a gem! And I started my commitment inventory whilst watching.

Thanks for sharing this is very intersting approach. After creating my list (which wasn’t easy), Categorie that I WOUL like to spend more time is Marketing & Analytics (for my online course) and less time editing and designing :) (this probably wont happen in near future but hopefully next year 🤞). By the way I Love ToDoist it has the BEST design of all other apps.

Pairing down lists will be my biggest challenge. Thanks for sharing this technique.

Sometimes I feel trapped with all the new projects that I have in my house. However, this is fun for me, so I'm struggling between this and lots of other things I have to do and love to do, and here are my categories. Time with my kids, better work organization, Home Improvement, Train my dog, Travel, Space and Documents Organization, Sport, Cooking, Language Learning, Volunteer Work, Pending Movies, Sports Watching . To get rid of, social networks, endless informative articles, Messenger Groups. I will take a look at the Book you mentioned and probably give it a try. By the way, Naomi, I love all your tips.

But I also wish this technique was taught in school! For the longest time I thought I was a poor time manger, but today I realize I just don’t have the right system. Thank you Naomi!

Very interesting video. I like a lot the short duration, the clarity of presentation and the possibilty you offer to investigate more. Thanks !

Just subscribed so glad I found this

Great! Will try for sure

Omg thank you for volunteering where you're from! I've been bingeing your videos during lunch and could not place the accent, it was driving me crazy (not the accent but the not knowing lol)

love the new perspective on the time/task management technique.

I have just consolidated my projects and no more Personal and Business projects; I now use a single project and 2 tags to differentiate between Personal and Business projects, this better fits my current needs.

What described in this video is very close to my system of categories implemented several years ago

Eye opening video that I need to implement into my life. I know I need to spend less time playing games which I don’t do often at all, but it can for sure be reallocated to something else

Great video! Excited to implement this method in my Todoist workflow!

It genuinely made me rethink much of my life. I’ll give a try to this method! Thanks for the easy to understand and short video! Keep it up! 👍🏼

You and your content are amazing... 😊

Naomi! Hannah from YNAB here! Literally [finally] downloaded Todoist last night after hearing coworkers rave about it for yearrrs, but being a new parent I find there's a whole new level "how in the world do I get everything done?!" that I'm needing to figure out. The quiz told me I should follow the GTD mentality-any chance we could get a video summarizing how to rock todist with the GTD approach?? Would love a good step-by-step checklist to help me figure out how to create my step-by-step checklist 😂 🌻 Hannah

Hi Naomi, great presentation style. I would like to spend less time scrolling through social media, *bids for sense of connection, and spend more time networking in real life instead. I am not sure why I am reluctant to do the "meetup" thing but that is what I am considering as a start. I am diagnosed with ADHD, a divorced empty nester at 57 years old and I was relieved of my job in August. I hope to use these processes to manage my ADHD.

Two things from me that I would like to spend more time on - personal development 📚 and travel ✈! I wish to dedicate more time to my personal development, e.g., reading more books and taking online courses in areas that I am interested in. Travel is also another category that I want to spend more time on. I used to travel a lot before the pandemic. For some reason, it is more challenging to decide on a destination to travel to (part of the reason is also due to the increase in flight costs).

I definitely need to work more on the category of health improving activities (exercise, meal planning, etc).

I've been doing a version of this for some time now - and on Todoist! Really great to have these broad ideas from Mark codified in this short video and the article to refine my own process. P.S. Love Naomi's accent!

I was actually recently thinking of the (plethora of) commitments I have made in the past several years and how it's hard to be a jack of all trades while mastering none. I've been "eating my frog" (from one of your previous videos 😋) every once in a while but I always end up with way too many frogs. The concept of assigning percentages to life sectors was genuinely helpful for me, even more so because you covered how Todoist comes into action. I think I'll be shelving pipe dream categories like 'Learn Swift' and 'WebDev Side Hustle', and divert more focus and attention to studying for my MBA exam and getting a driver's license. 😊

I've never heard of this method of task management. Interesting. I think the hardest aspect would be a willingness to pare down the commitment categories. Thanks for the food for thought.

Hi Naomi! I really love this concept! It really put my commitments into perspective and made me realize hmm maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself for not getting everything done 😅 I definitely need to make more room for upkeep and projects around my house... and I would LOVE to get rid of my work category! I feel like that would open up SO much time for the fun things 😋

Hi Naomi. Interesting concept. In a way that's how I see my Todoist - under the range of commitments that I have. While I don't see me getting rid of any such commitments, what I haven't yet really honed in on is the % breakdown for each area. I wonder, if I did, if this would make a difference to how I plan my day? Anyway - I see the good ol' Belfast vernacular sneaking out in the outtakes. It's great to hear a familiar accent on these tutorials. Martin (Belfast)

Thank you 🙏🏽

Im not entirely sold on this concept. It seems like a lot of backend work, especially every time you encounter something that wasn't part of your first inventory. Also figuring out if something is part of your commitments sounds like a lot of extra work. I do like the intentionality approach, though!

I love to play piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, and sing but I need to be a bit more ruthless in cutting a few back in order to focus in on just one or two. I wish I didn’t have to but not enough time in the day.

Thank you for the great video. I would spend less time reading self-development books and more time taking action.

A category I’d like to get rid of? School work! No but seriously, this video was helpful to me as I’ve been struggling lately with my priorities. A category I want to spend more time on would be learning new skills/obtaining new knowledge. There are so many interesting topics out there that I want to know more about!

I already have Todoist but I'd love to have Todoist Pro for its extra benefits. I'm definitely a person who tries to take on too much and I'm going to try the Commitment Inventory method after reading the article and the book if necessary. Thank you. I always love your tips Naomi

One of the categories that I tend to over commit is at work, always taking on a new project without an idea of where I have to get the time for it.

Categories!? I operate my entire life in categories! I have whittled them down to Relationships, Finance, Health, Self-Development, Spiritual, Social, Income Streams, and work tasks (income streams is for guiding my career as a whole, work tasks are my day-to-day operational next actions). The system you describe sounds like it would be very congruent with my system!

Cool video. I have just started a new (living) catagory called 'Gadget Graveyard' where I list EVERY SINGLE gadget I own, as well as adding new ones as I buy them. It's a real eye opener! I have so many gadgets 😬 but with this I get to come in and eliminate unused or obsolete gadgets by ticking them off my list then either selling or recycling the gadget in question. Less clutter, more physical and mental space 💪

Nice!

I don't mind at all paying my early subscription, since I love todoist for all it is. ❤ So feel free to choose another person, in case I win that 1-yr-subscription. On the other hand, here is another feedback and some suggestions: I find these videos really useful, since I'm not always able to spend extra time reading and listening can be done almost everywhere; plus, my students really get motivated to go read the posts and learn more after watching these videos. Also, regarding the commitment inventory, I totally imagine myself enjoying a dynamic pie-chart on todoist, tho. Something that would give me a visual representation corresponding to a specific view I would have open. For example, of how much time I dedicated for last week - having a week-in-review view ; or as another example, for the already existing "Upcoming" view - where I wish I could set a specific time interval (rest of the week, next week, next month, etc). I do 'touch-the-waters' regularly and views like the pie-chart, calendar and timeline, are the ones I wish the most at the moment (for several years already). 😊 Keep up the great work! Love you todoist! 🙏

I would think that it would be necessary to do a rexamine those priorities and time commitment on a regular basis. Things come up in life that take more time than it used to.

Hello Naomi! I love this video and your work on the channel. Personally, I think I should spend more time on the "reading books" category and spend less time on "Restaurants I would love to visit" 😃💪✅

So how do I find a time with my family to do this? Would love an evening or weekend event to do just that together with a host !

I'm struggling to get some of my categories to 10%... Instead of me deleting them, could Todoist work on making days 35 hours long? 😅

Interesting!!!

What application did you use for the pie chart

Great video though I found the background musak distracting and unnecessary. The out-takes are wonderful too.

A category I'd like to spend less time on is, oddly enough, work. I mean the mindless kind of work that generally fulfills someone else's goal but not mine. These generally come in via e-mail or through calendar. I read somewhere, "e-mail is someone else's to-do list". So, I want to address these as quickly as possible. A category I'd like to get rid of is information overwhelm There is just too much information on the web and consistently being mindful of what one consumes can be tricky. Quite easily mindless scrolling happens. So less of this. I think that having clear topics or questions that drive what one wants to consume is a great technique but getting lost in the weeds is far too easy also. A category I'd love to spend more time on is things that intrinsically motivate me. This can actually span through several categories pertaining to personal, work, family and so on. It is not about the specific project but more importantly about the activity that drives my passion to be engaged, motivated and see the project through to its end.

I would love to spend less time planning than doing. Hope you can get the pixture 😂. Thanks for sharing

Spend less time on: everyday stuff such as planning, preparing, making and cleaning up meals. Spend more time on: making decisions faster.

Great video, thanks! One small point of feedback maybe: better mic would be nice :) Category I’d love to get rid of or reduce is all the life admin work - it’s so much now with all the services, subscriptions and self managed utilities stuff…

❤

I wear soooo many hats and I really need to give some of them away. I would love to spend less time working on EMAIL! It's such a time-suck.

🥰

One category I would like to be rid of is homework 🤓

Great content, which for me required much effort to pay attention to due to the loud, distracting, unpleasant music.

PLEASE PICK ME!!! =DDDDD

less time on unimportant news stories

More sleep, please!

Thanks for the video, very clear ! I don't hav yet the list of the commitments I want to get rid off... but I definetely want to give it a try

Really nice, first do the Commitment Inventory and then time blocking. I did something like that but in an caban view in todoist :D