Make a List

In my opinion one of the most important step is to write it all down. Either on a list’s keeper app or a Shakespearean scribing method (a pen and paper). Either way by writing down all the requests from meetings, quick short notice demands, online meetings, emails and any other incoming requests will help you keep the list out of your head! This allows you to maintain sanity.

When Albert Einstein was asked: “What is the speed of sound?” he said: “I don’t know. I don’t burden my memory with such facts that I can easily find in any textbook.”

So, if a genius like Albert Einstein doesn’t fill his mind with nonsense then neither will I. Write things down and free up your mind.

Identify Importance

By tackling the list in a haphazardly way, bouncing from urgent to easy, you convince yourself your busy and must hustle harder to get the work completed in time.

• Once you have your list look it over, put things in order of urgency. Mark due dates beside them and put them in your calendar for more accountability and keep yourself on track. Focus on one task at a time. Being able to view all 200 things on the list you can examine, which is important and which is negotiable.
• Those that are negotiable you can then see right away and you can negotiate a change. Also, you can see what one can by done right away freeing up time for the more challenging tasks.
• If you can delegate some of those responsibilities or even team up with someone to be able to finish is also seen immediately.

Time Management

Focus 2 hours in the very first part your day to the most important tasks. This helps you start your day with a more focused mindset. This also helps you be able to focus on those more challenging tasks first thing. Many get sucked into the vortex of no return and all their time is gobbled up on one task alone leaving a hazard rush to finish the smaller tasks. Set a time limit to achieve each task.

Breaktimes

Take a break, stretch, go for a 10 min walk. If you are at your desk all day Canadian Chiropractors and Physio Therapists suggest taking a 30 second stretching at least every 1 hour. This helps with blood flow, posture, and is beneficial in focusing on a task. Every 2 hours take a 15-minute break. Get up, walk to the water cooler for a drink, go to the bathroom, look out the window, go outside, have a quick friendly chat with associates. This break is beneficial not only for the body and blood flow, but it also helps to clear the mind and has helped to bring a fresh look to your tasks and keeps you vibrant. Take your lunch. By skipping lunch causes “hangry” behaviour, irritability, short temper and adds to stress. So, go ahead, eat up.