Results shed light on organizational habits and differences between men and
women.
REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- People in the United
States report being in love with to-do lists and that they reduce stress,
according to a new survey. In honor of National Get Organized Month and New
Year's resolutions, a survey by Kelton Research explores people's habits of
keeping to-do lists to stay organized, their standards for productivity and
their approach to managing and prioritizing tasks. The results show that
people around the world are dependent on their to-do lists.
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U.S. citizens reported the most dependency on to-do lists worldwide, with
more than three-quarters (76 percent) of respondents currently keeping at
least one list; some manage up to three or more lists concurrently.
To-do lists are a stress management tool and have a calming effect on
nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of people who responded in the United
States, simply because everything is written down in front of them.
Respondents in Canada are most likely to have a list, with 78 percent of
respondents keeping at least one list. Japan is the least likely to make a
to-do list, at only 54 percent.
Respondents Who Keep at Least One To-Do List
* Japan: 54 percent
* France: 56 percent
* United Kingdom: 69 percent
* Germany: 70 percent
* Spain: 72 percent
* United States: 76 percent
* Italy: 77 percent
* Canada: 78 percent
Although participants in the United States said they check off 69 percent
of the tasks on their to-do lists in a week, procrastination is alive and
well. On average, the longest an item has stayed on their to-do lists is
nearly a month (22 days). On the other end of the spectrum, respondents in
Spain recorded 59 percent of tasks completed each week. Respondents in Italy
feel the closest attachment to lists, with almost half of their daily
activities (45 percent) originating from one, compared with 35 percent for
residents of the United States.
Men and Women Differ on To-Do's
In the United States, men and women have different views on how to manage
to-do lists.
* 20 percent of males said they believe they can do everything in their
heads, compared with 9 percent of females who choose to rely on mental
management rather than write things down.
* Men are more likely than women to keep personal aspirations (37 percent
vs. 22 percent) and professional goals (32 percent vs. 14 percent) on
to-do lists.
* As their day begins, women are more likely than men to first address the
most important (85 percent vs. 78 percent) and least enjoyable
(56 percent vs. 46 percent) items.
List Management Methods
Around the globe, people are employing a wide range of list management
strategies to get everything done, starting from the moment they review their
daily lists to deciding which item to tackle first:
* When asked which item they address first -- the most important or the
first listed -- all countries strongly agreed (75 percent or higher)
that they address the most important item on their list first.
* Respondents in Italy and France would highly prefer to knock off the
hardest task first, at 75 percent and 67 percent, respectively.
* Residents of Japan and the U.K. choose to start with the easiest task,
at 59 percent and 55 percent, respectively.
Respondents Who First Address the Hardest Item on Their To-Do List
* Japan: 41 percent
* United Kingdom: 45 percent
* Canada: 54 percent
* Spain: 54 percent
* United States: 56 percent
* Germany: 57 percent
* France: 67 percent
* Italy: 75 percent
International Inefficiency
Sometimes all the strategy in the world isn't enough to get things done.
According to the survey, to-do list tasks often languish on lists for weeks
before getting crossed off.
Respondents' Most Number of Days an Item Has Ever Stayed on a To-Do List
* Italy: 14
* France: 18
* Spain: 19
* Japan: 20
* United States: 22
* Germany: 24
* Canada: 26
* United Kingdom: 26
Setting the Bar for Productivity
Respondents in Japan reveal a high standard for productivity, saying on
average that they need to complete 59 percent of the tasks on their weekly
to-do list to feel productive, an international high. By contrast, Italy
respondents said they need to complete only 41 percent to feel productive.
Putting Organization in Action
The Windows Mobile group at Microsoft Corp. has teamed up with Ellen
Damaschino, certified professional organizer and creator of Neat, to assess
the global importance of to-do lists and to show how people can start checking
off more items on their to-do lists using its mobile phone software.
"It's no secret that people all over the world are extremely busy and
often stressed out from juggling multiple aspects of their lives," Damaschino
said. "They're looking for tools that can help them regain control and just
get through their day. I've teamed up with Windows Mobile to show how that's
possible."
Damaschino will be on the road the week of Jan. 14 to visit various cities
and educate people on how they can be more organized this year. She's also
introducing the Get Organized sweepstakes (U.S. only) to motivate people to
better manage their to-do lists and follow through with their New Year's
resolutions. One grand prize winner will spend a day with Damaschino to
organize a room in his or her home or place of business, and 20 other winners
will receive Windows Mobile phones. Details on entering the sweepstakes
including official rules can be found at
http://www.windowsmobile.com/organize.
With Windows Mobile, people can make the most of their time, checking
e-mail, managing their calendar and contacts, editing documents, searching the
Web, and enjoying entertainment while they're on the go. The power of Windows
Mobile turns the phone into a companion for all aspects of life, including
to-do lists.
More worldwide survey results, tips on how to be more productive and
information on the latest Windows Mobile phones are available at
http://www.windowsmobile.com/organize.
About Ellen Damaschino
Ellen Damaschino is a certified professional organizer based in Portland,
Ore., and creator of Neat (http://www.neatorganizer.com). She works to help
people organize their personal space and understand the obstacles that prevent
them from reaching their life goals. Combining her personal and professional
experiences, Damaschino brings a fresh and unique approach to Neat. From
bedrooms to buildings, she enjoys the spectrum of space management challenges
while teaching others about the many benefits of simplicity.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
U.S., Weber Shandwick Mobile Communications Business PR Team, +1-425-452-5400,
usmcbteam@webershandwick.com, or EMEA, Weber Shandwick EMEA Mobile
Communications Business PR Team, +44 207 067 0500,
emeamcbteam@webershandwick.com, or APAC, Weber Shandwick APAC Mobile
Communications Business PR Team, +65 6825 8000,
apacmcbteam@webershandwick.com, all for Microsoft Corp.
