I now use the method of writing down new tasks each night as I review my task lists.
Numbering the tasks in order of importance and urgency are of utmost importance. I used to accomplish the quick tasks, so as to get them out of the way, and found that I ran out of time to perform the tasks that were more important.
By using this method, I also found that the tasks were very prominent in my mind and so during the day I would stay on course to accomplish what had to be done. This has eliminated running around and accomplishing nothing.
I highly recommend task prioritization either using a comuter task list or an old fashioned "To Do List"
Paul,
Looking at your “to do†list on a daily basis is a great habit. Many people are perfectly capable of writing out a “to do†list. After their list is written out, however, they never look at it again. By taking a look at your tasks every morning, you remind yourself of everything that needs to be accomplished. If nothing else, your list probably serves as an excellent memory aid for you.
I always have a steady "to do" list with everything clearly written out. However, I have never given any thought to prioritizing this list. It always ends up as a random list of duties. On that note, though, my "to do" list is the first thing I look at everyday. I organize all my daily activities around it, and it is always getting rewritten. If there is an item on there for the coming days, I just simply ignore it...
I HAVE STARTED TO MAKE A WEEKLY TO-DO LIST, AND NOW FEEL MORE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE BETTER AND FEEL AS THOUGH I WILL BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND LESS STRESSED HOPEFULLY.
Hi Tina,
What a thoughtful response. You bring up an interesting point about work and household responsibilities. Some people deal with work and household responsibilities differently. For example, you seem to be relying on immediacy to accomplish tasks at home but seem to have a more balanced approach when accomplishing tasks at work. You might find that creating a to-do list that includes both work and household responsibilities can help. With this type of list, it might be easier for you to prioritize tasks because you will be able to see the whole picture. This type of list might also help you feel more in control of the tasks that you wish to accomplish across the board. The feeling of being in control may reduce the stress that you are experiencing.
I haven't made a "to-do list" until now. I feel that if something needs to be done, try to get it done right away, unless it's something I would like to avoid doing. I deal with things at work better than things at home. When I'm at home, I usually want things done ASAP, especially if it involves cleaning. At work, I know that everything should be done in a timely manner, so that I am prepared to teach and it's better to be on top of things when you are coordinating the school's Medical program. Sometimes I do get very stressed though.
Samuel,
I am glad to hear that you plan to use a "to do" list. You are right in that these lists really can help us accomplish our priorities. It is amazing what can happen when we write our priorities down on paper. Our priorities are more likely to be accomplished if they are written down. But there is another great benefit too. When we write our priorities on paper, we can put them out of our minds. This makes our priorities less distracting and can help us focus on the tasks at hand.
I try to plan my work with a do list hopefully benefit my priorities
I try to prepare my work, set what is the top priority in my prepare to do list.
"to-do" list are my weckness. I have 2 business that I own & I also teach part time. It is so had to sit down & write things out! i really need to sit down just for 5 min a day & write down what I need to do for each business. Sometime U forget & I do the wrong thing for the wrong business, Things like a "to do" list would help with the account & my records. "to-Do" list are a part of personal & professional growth. i had them as I kid, I need to have them now!
Eva,
It's great to hear that you are good at making effective to-do lists. That is a wonderful start!
Perhaps there is a way to have more reasonable expectations about what you can accomplish on your list. When our expectations are too high, we may end up feeling disappointed about the tasks that we didn't accomplish. This can decrease our motivation to try to accomplish tasks in the future. When our expectations are reasonable and more closely match reality, we tend to continue to be motivated to accomplish our tasks. This can help us reach our goals.
I am pretty good at making effective to-do lists. Unfortunately, I am overly optimistic/ambitious about what I can get done each day.
I try to "plan my work and work my plan".
