The Stop-Doing List Template
For solo operators who want to work less, not more
Most productivity advice tells you to do MORE. This template helps you do LESS.
How it works:
- 1 List everything you currently do in your business
- 2 Categorize each item using the framework below
- 3 Stop doing anything in the "STOP" categories
- 4 Question everything else
The brutal truth: 40% of what you do probably doesn't matter. This template helps you find it.
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The Framework
🛑 STOP IMMEDIATELY
Tasks that add zero value but eat your time
| Task | Why I Do It | Why I Should Stop |
|---|---|---|
| [Example: Checking email every 10 minutes] | [Feel productive/Fear missing something] | [Interrupts deep work, most emails aren't urgent] |
⚠️ STOP SOON
Tasks you do out of habit but don't drive results
| Task | What Would Happen If I Stopped? | Action |
|---|---|---|
| [Example: Weekly team meeting with no agenda] | [Nothing important would be missed] | [Cancel or restructure] |
🤔 QUESTION EVERYTHING
Tasks that might be necessary but could be simplified
| Task | Current Time Investment | Simplified Version | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Example: Monthly financial reports] | [4 hours] | [Simple P&L dashboard] | [3 hours] |
💰 DELEGATE OR AUTOMATE
Tasks that need doing but not by you
| Task | Cost of Me Doing It | Delegation/Automation Option | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Example: Social media posting] | [$100/hour x 5 hours = $500] | [Scheduling tool: $20/month] | [96% cost reduction] |
The Reality Check
Before You Start
- Total hours worked per week:
- Hours spent on actual revenue-generating work:
- Percentage of time adding real value: %
After Using This Template
- Hours I can eliminate:
- New weekly total:
- Time gained for important work:
Common Culprits
Things most solo operators should probably stop doing
The Hard Questions
What am I doing because I think I "should" rather than because it works?
What tasks do I do because they make me feel busy rather than productive?
If I could only work 20 hours per week, what would I cut first?
What would happen if I stopped doing [specific task] for 30 days?
Your Stop-Doing Commitments
This Week I Will Stop:
This Month I Will Stop:
By Next Quarter I Will Stop:
Emergency Use Only
When You Feel Overwhelmed
Come back to this question: "What can I stop doing right now?"
Most overwhelm comes from doing too much, not from not doing enough.
The 80/20 Rule Applied to Stopping
- • 80% of your stress comes from 20% of your tasks
- • 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your activities
- • Find the 80% you can stop doing
Remember: Every "yes" to something unimportant is a "no" to something that matters.