I will make an effort to accomplish those tasks that are most urgent first even if they are the more challenging and less fun items on the list.
Unfortunately, one must priortize tasks in order to survive successfully in a corporate setting. Although one might believe that teaching is the highest priority in a college for a teacher, one must also realize that equal attention must be allocated to administrative tasks and mandates. It is important to focus on the teaching part of the equation, but not to lose sight of the administrative needs of the corporation.
I choose to accomplish tasks by measuring the time required to complete the task and any deadline attributed to the task. I normally priortize student queries (email, appointments, needs) and complete thes tasks right away. Administrative tasks are partitioned and met by their deadlines.
I have always used "To Do" lists. Prioritizing the tasks should help me to not do the small, easy things first, which is always a temptation for me.
Yes. As we continue to do most things electronically, I find that I most often mis-use the flags in Outlook Email programs. Everything I need to do has a full red flag, because that is the first click. It marks everything as needing to be done today. This plays into the obstacle of immediacy.
Thanks for helping me see the value of a daily to do list.In the past a to do list would be made only when i am in a crunch.
George, That sounds like a healthy approach to prioritization and if it's working for you, great! Some people take it a step further and ask themselves what would happen if they did not complete a task. Thinking about that outcome often helps them gain clarity on priorities too.
Dr. Melissa Read
I normally complete minor tasks first and save important tasks for when I have a block of time to devote to them. That allows me time to treat the work with the appropriate level of attention. It varies according to circumstance.
I have had a lot of responsibility for some time and I have had to organize and prioritize due to the fact my job effects everyone else. While I am a procratinator, I organize and attack my to do sheet with a vengence based on urgency and a time-table. When I am going to not make the time-table, I communicate it so that all are aware. Communication goes a long way when the schedule doesn't work out and this can happen often.
I agree with you this has always been an issue of mine. I am definitely a control and immediacy person. Then when I started teaching and could not always get it done right away, I would feel inadequate and had to learn to prioritize the important first and get to the others when I had free time. Students don't have to get instant results on tests and can wait a day or two.
This is a great question for yours truly, Because I am one of those that must complete everything right away, and when I do not, I'm off my game. Additionally I cannot say no "enough," thus interfering with my time management.
So the answer is definitely yes!
I have been using to do lists now for several years and they are wonderful. They help me be prepared every day for what is on my schedule. I like to prioitize them with numbers also and it is wonderful to be able to line off each task as it is accomplished. I like to have my tests and any handouts ready to go at least a week ahead of time because our copy machine can be very unreliable at times or is not available that day because others have it tied up.
I learned some of these skills over time because of the consequences that occurred when I was less efficient at good time management.
Stephanie, I understand where you are coming from and a lot of students in this course take the same approach. Sometimes it's easier to knock out a few key tasks as confidence builders before moving on to the more complex ones.
Dr. Melissa Read
Chemo, Pushing back on tasks that do not fit within our job requirements can be tough. Sometimes there are too many shades of gray when it comes to our roles and it's hard to determine what's in scope and what's out.
Dr. Melissa Read
Richard, So true. Communication is key. Sometimes simply setting expectations of yourself and others is the best approach for ensuring things get done in a timely manner, and that you also don't get stressed out. I should note that often times, the deadlines we face aren't always real. Sometimes there is a bit of margin for error. If we simply connect with the owners of each of our tasks, we can gain transparency into true needs.
Dr. Melissa Read
Jeanne, It sounds like you have an excellent and well refined system to count on Jeanne. That's wonderful to hear. It often takes several months or even several years to develop the perfect system and one that works best for you. It sounds like you have invested the time and are truly experiencing the rewards.
Dr. Melissa Read
I think that I do a pretty good job of prioritizing tasks, but I do avoid some tasks from time to time, that are big and seem daunting. Breaking larger tasks down into smaller tasks, will be a good strategy to use.
Important and urgent tasks need to be a priority. Being a priority does not necessarily mean that each task has to be done immediately. Even important and urgent tasks need to be prioritized appropriately, with some being done before others. Factors to consider are;
Do you have them time right now to complete the tasks efficiently and correctly?
Will completing tasks in a more effective order allow for more and better productivity?
Based on what I have learned today I'm going to commit to task prioritization for 30 days. It will be interesting to see how this reduces my stress over the next month.
John, I like evaluating sense of urgency based on a few key questions. If I could add one more, it would be "What would happen if I did not complete this task right now?"
Dr. Melissa Read
