I have been in many situations were I have put tasks off until it is a mad crunch to accomplish them. I have started a to do list and prioritizing the urgency of tasks. This is going much easier
I have started to do use a system of prioritization this term. I have a white board on my desk and write my to-do list on it at the beginning (or end) of every week. I erase the tasks as they are completed and then prioritize the list again. There are some tasks like grading and filing that never come off the list. I also have tried to organize my desk. I have a stack of paperwork to file, my books that I am using for classes and another stack of paperwork that I need to go through to decide whether to keep/file or trash. The system is working well so far!
I am thinking aloud here so to speak. My three main job tasks are grading, preparing lessons AND admin stuff. I tend to give admin stuff the priority, because I can walk into a classroom and since most of the classes are things I have taught before...I can wing it almost. Amazingly I am still effective; I think I've grown adept at this with my past as an overworked elem teacher.
The thing is that this actually causes the most stress. I really hate not being prepared. Before I leave each day, I'll make sure I am prepared for the next day's classes. The admin stuff, I can actually do at home with my shoes off and no tie.
I actually do use immediacy for grading. My experience is that if I don't do it ASAP, it distracts me and I seriously procrastinate it
Kind of just some random thoughts here with no conclusion but for a resolve to get things done sooner.
Scott, Sounds like you have had a lot of experience to learn from and you have optimized your approach to task completion for the best! This is wonderful to hear. I wonder what other opportunities you have to further streamline things.
Dr. Melissa Read
Tracey, It sounds like you are indeed struggling with immediacy. I might recommend taking a few low priority tasks and seeing whether or not you can wait to complete them until the next morning. This practice might force you to identify true priorities. You might also enjoy the break too! You can try this just once a week so you could feel confident that you will not get too far behind.
Dr. Melissa Read
Dara, I really love that approach. Completing big tasks in chunks can make them so much less daunting. It feels good to just chip away at them over time, knowing some of our biggest obstacles will slowly be overcome.
Dr. Melissa Read
That is true as well. I too find myself doing this with my students as well. But I guess its, what ever works to get through the material and to build confidence for harder things.
I have to have a to do list in order to stay focus on my tasks and stay organized. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment to be able to cross things off the list.
I will overload a task list, knowing that it cannot get accomplished in one session, but it will give me a jump on the next session, I always over budget time because there will always be situations that occur that are time eaters. I will also prioritize the most difficult or time consuming tasks, so that when they are accomplished, everything else seems easier.
I will now tend to not prioritize so much. I often like to get my work out of the way. This was a good wake up call for me and I have learned plenty from this early lesson.
Stephen, I like how you are able to identify three categories for your work that require your attention and also cause you stress. It's interesting to hear about how and where you approach work in each category, given the unique nature of the work. You are right, some tasks can be completed in the convenience of our homes. When this is the case and where our administrations permit, it can be nice to get them done in comfortable environments.
Dr. Melissa Read
I tend to do exactly what the course has said, I finish easier and less urgent tasks first just to get them out of the way because I suppose it makes me feel like I've been more productive since I get to cross off more tasks off of my to-do list. I need to change this behavior and acutally work on more urgent tasks first before I go ahead with the less important ones.
Oh yes! I need to write things down first thing in the morning. The reason is, if you write down the days task each day first thing in the morning, you can get things done. This module took one step further by prioritization of each days task. Great info!
Important tasks aren't always urgent so I accomplish urgent tasks first in a reasonable time frame. In the past I would procrastinate on important tasks that I didn't look forward to doing untill they became urgent. Now I set a time frame for each task and try to stick to that schedule.
I tend to make lists and then set them aside. Keeping track of the list and checking them off is a good way to keep organized.
Daniel, It sounds like you have developed a great system over time. That's wonderful to hear. None of us start out as experts. It takes time to refine our processes and develop standards that work for us.
Dr. Melissa Read
I am usually good at prioritizing what task need to be done first and one that can wait a little more, but I found out a to do list will be helpfull. Sometimes my ADD effects tells me that writting a list is a waste of time and I use to keep or let myself think I do keep everything in order in my brain, but sometimes it is just too much and a "to do list" will certainly help.
I think it is very important to understand how to prioritize tasks. I personally think I have a good handle of this but did learn that I, at times, suffer from task insecurity. I think reviewing this module helped me figure out how to overcome this insecurity.
Since looking at this information I have tried with success to makes a "to do" list and check things off as I go.
It depends on my future projects and assignments.I will change the order in which I accomplish important and urgent tasks if needed.
