UK dependent on "to-do" lists

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 15 Jan 2008 at 12:01

More than 75% of the UK population are reliant on "to-do" lists to organise themselves, a dependency that is common to a number of developed countries.

In a survey by Kelton Research to mark National Get Organized Month, 69% of UK respondents say that they keep at least one list of things to be done. While that is more than Japan and France, people in Germany, Spain, the US, Italy and, most of all, Canada are even more dependent.

The survey also found, to no great surprise, that making a list is not the same as getting something done. In most of the countries surveyed, it is not unknown for "to-dos" not to get done for 20 days or more.

Italians are the least likely to procrastinate and also the most likely to tackle the hardest job on the list first.

But despite their apparent efficiency, Italians are the least concerned about striking tasks off the list. They only need to complete 40% of the tasks scheduled for the week to feel productive, lower than any other country.

UK respondents generally prefer to delay addressing difficult tasks. Like the Japanese they prefer to start with the easiest job, and they keep items on the list for longest.