I tend to over obsess about email--I check it far too frequently. Yet with other tasks, I really have to set firm deadlines for myself to get them done in time. The module helped me learn to better prioritize my tasks to give me more balance in work and life. I always find I do better with a to-do list--I just often forget to make them.
Interesting approach Kevin. Sounds like it will work for you. Yes, if we invest in doing tasks we don't like early, we get them out of the way and often can more fully enjoy the tasks we enjoy later.
Yes indeed,typically I tend to put off those tasks that I don't typically care to perform. However, this actually generates stress because it is tucked away in your gray matter as an unresolved task.
My priority would be to refocus and do the unpleasant task first.
Michael Wynne
I tend to put things off. I have learned that papers need to be graded sooner than later to monitor student progress. I have started giving myself time limits to grade things (ex: within 24 hours or the next day of class)
Task prioritization and effectively managing to-do lists are essentially skills for success.
I tend to procrastinate often but always meet deadlines. I always tell myself that I am not going to do this next time. But somehow it always ends up that I do. I need to force myself to have more self-discipline then I will change my order of accomplishing tasks and hopefully do them in a timely manner.
I have had a more haphazard way of using lists. The numbering system for order of importance is a good idea, since I have found myself choosing the shortest of a group of tasks first.
The balance between teaching and administrative work that also includes staff work and suspenses are always at the fore front of my day and working to delegate as much as I can.
The dichotomy is the preparation for a 2 hour class always requires much more effort to make sure of my credibility and currency on the topic being taught.
The most important point learned in this module was to prioritize and that I do not have to answer every email or respond to every phone message with a sense of urgency over other larger priorities that require creativity, thought and a deliverable.
My class comes first!!! I have to be flexable, fire drills, 3/4 of my students being pulled out of class for grad interviews, computer failures or power failures all take priority. Training comes second and I procrastinate, favoring organizing the class on a daily basis.
I try and prioritize tasks related to level of importance and urgency. I also try and condense similiar tasks to consolidate time spent. That does seem to work. However, due to the nature of my job there are times everything goes out the window! I often provide both crisis and casemanagement services to students. If someone is in crisis that obviously takes priority over anything else. I need to build in flexibility with my schedule and if it does not get done that day I need to carry it into the next until it gets done.
My first priority is typically response to students. I do tend to get wrapped up in serving the students. As a result of information provided and learned in this module, I will change my approach. While it is very important to respond to my students, every situation is not urgent, and I can gain more insights by reviewing information first or not stopping in the middle of one task to complete another. Focus and organization are key factors. :-)
In the past, I have preferred to talk with students rather than grading papers. Prioritization is important.
I have typically responded to more desirable tasks first. Those things that I don't like to do are always put on the back burner. I like the example of doing those things that are urgent and important first. Making priorities and marking them off as complete, certainly does serve as a sense of accomplishment.
I, apparently approach the to-do lists in the same manner. I make the effort to TRY and get done what I plan to get done, but freequently, due to some very good questions from students, this does not always happen.
Most of the time I do wait but since I have done this module It has helped a great deal. It will decrease my stress level and things will get done in priority Thanks
As an ex-military pilot, we lived by "check lists" in order to go flying. If you skipped something on the "check list", the results potentially could often be very bad!!
I live by "To Do" / "Check Lists" now-a-days.
Prioritizing is just good practice!! It is something we learned in the military and is always a good practice.
As an ex-military pilot, we lived by "check lists" in order to go flying. If you skipped something on the "check list", the results potentially could often be very bad!!
I live by "To Do" / "Check Lists" now-a-days.
Prioritizing is just good practice!! It is something we learned in the military and is always a good practice.
I believe that I do a ggod job of prioritizing the tasks that I need to accomplish. As a teacher at a small, for profit college, I am asked to do a great many things that I simply do not have the time for. Often it seems that teaching is the least important responsibility, according to my bosses. I do not agree with them on this, so I often do what I find important first and then I get to the tasks that my bosses have assignmed to me. I have worked here for 17 years now and I have consistantly been able to get my tasks dos, so I must be getting something right.
At times I do tend to procrastinate, or I should say that I used to procrastinate. This has been a challenge of mine ever since I was a student back in the early 80's. In my junior year of undergraduate studies at Ohio University I realized that I needed to correct this and I worked hard to do this. I tried many different things but the only thing that really worked for me was me being as disciplined and organized as I possibley could be. This always worked for me in my athletic endeavors, meager as they were, so I applied what I learned playing football, basketball, and baseball to my everyday life, in terms of discipline and organization, and it worked. I still have my moments, as my wife points out, but they are fewer and farther in between than they used to be.
Posting attendance and grading assignments are the most urgent, but there are always students that need questions answered and that will trump anything on my to do list. I really enjoyed the first module it lets me know that I am not the only one wanting to manage my time better!
This is true Jerry! Sometimes student needs are so urgent that we've got to put everything aside to help them. Other times we've got to put the perception of urgency into perspective for students when their needs are non urgent relative to other tasks on our plate.
