David, Good that you know that about yourself. Some of us are great at organizing our days but when it comes to getting through them, we have a hard time. My recommendation is to start with a small confidence builder at the start of your day and work your way up to other tasks from there.
Dr. Melissa Read
I really do both depending upon how much I have to do. I try not to put things off, but I sometimes have to. I have always used lists, but based on this module, I will try highlighting to set priorities. I usually try to list to do things in order, but I feel this method would be much better.
Dr. Read,
From what I'm learning, I feel I should place urgent before important of course. It's all important to me, so I know not where to start a lot of times. I believe though, if I let go of some my immediacy ways, I can improve.
Putting things off until tomorrow is going to be a tough pill for me to swallow. I was raised to always complete tasks/chores first – the sooner the better. But I must admit that living with that attitude does, at times, leave me feeling stressed and exhausted. I should adopt a different perspective.
I tend to tackle the most important and/or pressing things first and interlace them with less important or easy to accomplish tasks. I find it helps break the time up and keep me working.
I will not change much about my task prioritization, I seem to have a grip on this concept. It does get interesting in corporate America when priority from management changes and we have to reassess based in that.
Stephen, Mental breaks are certainly nice and I understand exactly where you are coming from. Some of my students call these 'mindless tasks.' It's nice to have a few quick wins throughout the day, motivating too!
Dr. Melissa Read
Robert, I know it's hard to change. Maybe you could slightly evolve your current method. Sounds like you struggle a little with immediacy. Maybe delaying a couple of low priority tasks every now and then will help you feel less hurried and allow you to enjoy life a little more.
Dr. Melissa Read
I have always tried to prioritize my tasks depending on needs of the better of the company I work for and the patient or client. I feel that most people tend to accomplish tasks based on demand from their employer or customers. I have met several people in my career that had no clue how to prioritize anything! But I still learned from them...
I like this course it helps you reasses your way of doing things and take a look at possible changes to improve.
Nicole,
I agree. I have these issues as well. due to the type of job I do. I think that there are times that we may want to do things differently but due to time restraingts and requirements we tend to lean towards immediacy and control in order to meet the demands placed on us.
Ive never been a procrastinator because I hate the consequences of not being prepared. So then I have immediacy issues and fear issues. Making a prioritized task list with weekly updates is exactly what I am going to start doing. A timeline of tasks in an organized and prioritized way. Now I hope I don't leave important tasks out!
I am very bad about putting things off for another time. But since taking this course and receiving more responsibility at work, I have tried to take a different approach to prioritizing things.
LATONYA, It sounds like you know yourself well, both your strengths and opportunities. That's a great place to start. Yes, go ahead and try to make small changes. Change doesn't have to be drastic. It's possible to evolve your approach for greater productivity over time.
Dr. Melissa Read
It depends on "urgency".What are the consequences it I don't accomplish the task(s) in a timely fashion. If there are no real consequences, then importance/time is the deciding factor.
Not really, I unconciously follow the format presented "most of the time". However, sometimes it can get pretty "hairy!"
Hello Dr. Read,
I admit my control issue has always been get it done as soon as possible, aka Immediacy according to the course text. Although there have been times I have procrastinated, this is rare. This course was very interesting in that I have always made and still do make 'to-do' lists not only to keep abreast of what I have to do but also to be able to prioritize (as well as assist my memory!). And speaking from experience, numbering items to set priorities does work, at least it has for me for some years, and it was interesting to see this method mentioned. I found the text both interesting, informative and entertaining.
-Tom
I have been an instructor for over 17 years and feel I have a pretty good organisational system. urgent tasks are given the highest priority and I rarely miss a deadline. Non-critical tasks are given lower priorities and I usually will take care of them at a later time or date.
I think it is critically important to have a "to do" list and to check it regularly. Also, I find that it is important to have flexibility! Urgent situations do occur when unexpected. As instructors we need to model the desired behaviors such as organization, self-control, and the ability to change plans when needed!
I am the same way. Have operated from that mindset for years. Even when I have To Do lists I end up not reading them and doing tasks out of my head.
I stress the importance of this to all my other instructors. It does put thingds in perspective and makes it a lot easier to get other things done when you prioritize your tass daily and do not wait 8ntil the last minute. it is also a stress save r for yourself.
The more and more I have to do, I realize after going through this mod that I do need to actually write things down and really prioritize. Looking at it on a list might change the order than how I was thinking of the order in my head. Also with all the technology, it is easy to get distracted by wanting to respond and, depending on how much time is spent doing that, then the priority list may change.
