“TO DO” or “NOT TO DO” - The Key to Life Management

“TO DO” or “NOT TO DO”

The Key to Life Management

Self Help Tip

By

VIKRAM KARVE

“TO DO” LIST

When I was in the Navy I always had a “to do” list or a “slop chit” (in naval parlance).

It was standard naval practice for officers to carry a “slop chit” in their pocket at all times, especially in work-intensive appointments like those on board ships and in Naval Dockyards.

At the start of the day we wrote down all the jobs to be done on the “slop chit”.

When a task was completed, we struck off that entry – and whenever there was a new job to be done, we added that job to the “slop chit”.

The tasks which remained incomplete at the end of the day, we transferred to the next day’s page.

I am sure you maintain such “to do” lists too – nowadays you can maintain these “slop chits” in digital form on your smart phone or on your laptop too.

At work, these “to do” lists are an obligation you have to perform in return for the money your employer pays you as salary.

Sometimes, the “obligations” can be non-monetary too – like familial obligations towards your spouse, children, parents or relatives; or a commitment you have made to someone.

In short, “to do” lists are related to “obligations”.

“NOT TO DO” LIST

Now that I have retired, I have a “no to do” list.

Now there is no need for a “to do” list as far as “work” is concerned.

Once you retire, you don’t work for anyone – you don’t have an employer who pays you money – so you have no obligations – there is no “job” for you to do – and hence there is no need to maintain a “slop chit” or “to do” list as far as “work” is concerned.

In most cases, by the time you retire, your children have “flown away” from your nest – so you don’t have any parenting responsibilities either.

Yes, even after retirement, you may have some “bare minimum inescapable” obligations – like essential daily chores, paying bills etc.

In India, even after retirement, they hassle you with sundry issues.

For example, all pensioners have to visit their banks in November every year to render a “life certificate” in person in order to prove that they are alive.

Various types of bills and taxes are to be paid, returns are to be filed, but you can reduce these to the bare minimum inescapable and try to delegate these tasks or use information technology to do these tasks online with minimal effort.

To put it in a nutshell, once you retire, your aim should be to minimize these sundry tasks to bare minimum so that you do not need to maintain a daily “slop chit” or a “to do list” for these very few “inescapable” tasks.

After retirement, what you must do every day, is to maintain a daily “not to do” list.

“TO DO” or “NOT TO DO” – The Secret of Blissful Retirement

After retirement you are supposed to enjoy a peaceful and blissful retired life “doing nothing”.

Every person has a different concept of how to enjoy “blissful retirement”.

I like to spend my time reading, writing, blogging, social networking and taking long walks with my pet dog.

Some of my ex “fauji” friends like to play golf every morning followed by chilled beer with their navy buddies talking of the “good old days”.

There is a crazy guy who is enjoying his retired life indulging in adventure sports, despite his age.

Some like to spend their time indulging in spiritual activities.

Others travel, many take up a hobby, and a few involve themselves in social activities.

Everyone has different ideas of “bliss” – “to each his own” as they say.

I know what “blissful retirement” means for me.

You know what “blissful retirement” means for you.

So, after retirement, “blissful retirement” will be the only item on your daily “slop chit” or “to do” list.

Thus, there is no need for you to maintain an exhaustive “to do” list (since you have only one “to do” item in your life – any activity that enables blissful retirement).

In order to enjoy retirement, what you must maintain is a “not to do” list.

Your “not to do” list will include all those activities which impede or interfere with the enjoyment of “blissful retirement”.

Whatever hassles you – those burdensome but unnecessary obligations and activities which waste your time and cause you stress – just put them on your “not to do” list.

I have realized that, after retirement, what you decide “not to do” is more important than what you decide “to do”.

The “not to do” list need not be not restricted to activities alone – it can be applied to people too (your “not to meet” list).

Let me give you a simple example.

Long back, in the Navy, I once had a “toxic” boss who I did not like.

Our “vibes” just did not match, and even being in his company was stressful for me.

Now, this boss had decreed that he would have a meeting at 9 every morning and wanted everyone, including me, to be present.

I had no choice but to put the 9 AM meeting on the “to do” list, though I would rather have this painful morning meeting with the boss on my “not to do” list.

In the morning, this boss would ask us about our work, and then micromanage, ordering us to report on progress from time to time, and though I hated it, I had to put all this on my “to do” list – the progress reports which entailed meeting or speaking to the boss which I hated to do.

Now, I have retired, I am my own boss, and I am a free bird – so now I have a “not to do” list of toxic people I do not want to meet (a “not to meet” list).

Similarly, just before retirement, I was a Professor, and my “to do” list comprised the lecture assignments and guidance of research work which were an “obligation” since I was paid a salary.

Now, after retirement, I am often invited to deliver guest lectures and conduct training programs – but since I am under no obligation, I am free to decide whether “to do” or “not to do”.

WHY WAIT FOR RETIREMENT – Why not have a “not to do” list right now

I will let you in on a secret.

I had started practicing this “to do” or “not to do” strategy long back in the early stages of my career – albeit covertly and tactfully.

So, you need not wait for retirement to make your first “not to do” list – you can do it right now.

Of course, once you retire you can do it quite brazenly.

So, Dear Reader, why don’t you start right now, and instead of a “to do” list, you make a “not to do” list every morning?

Decide what “not to do” rather than what “to do”

Implement this daily life management strategy and you will see your efficiency rise and stress disappear.

As I said earlier, you will realize that deciding what “not to do” may be more beneficial rather than deciding what “to do”.

To be continued in Part 2…

Some Real Life Success Stories of Individuals who focused on “not to do” lists and successfully implemented the “to do” or “not to do” strategy

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Disclaimer:

1. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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