Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and philosopher, claimed, “A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” That can be pretty scary, if you manage to actually find the time to reflect on the meaning.

There is no question that everyone has too much to keep track of, and much of that stays in your head. One solution is to be sure that you always write down everything. It clears your mind, ensures that you will not overlook tasks or deadlines, and allows you to prioritize. However, do not create long ToDo lists. Instead write down one thing only on a sheet of paper, and place that in a Daily Action filing system.

Since you do not always have a full sheet of paper handy, I recommend to my clients that they carry index cards with them at all times. These cards are both sturdier and less expensive than stick-on notes. Any time a thought comes into your head, jot it down on the index card. Remember, only record one item per card.

I call these index cards“No Brainer” cards. Nothing is ever overlooked because you have taken it out of your mind and placed it into an Action file. Your brain is freed to focus on current activities.