PPB April 2020

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT A s we all rise and get into the grind every day, leaning in and saying “yes,” we may find ourselves overwhelmed with things to do. Some tasks may stall on the sidelines until it’s nearly too late, leading to last-minute scrambling to get them done. When you’re juggling so many responsibilities, how do you get and stay organized? This was a significant struggle for me as 2018 came to a close. I had just been promoted to project supervisor and had taken on a host of new responsibilities. My director was confident that I had the ability to accomplish everything set in front of me, but I kept losing my grip on tasks and missing deadlines. I was frustrated with myself and couldn’t tell where my hours had gone. To combat the problem, I did a bit of research about efficiency and organization in the workplace and am proud to say that this past year was my most productive yet. Here are some tactics I used: 1 Write It Down One of the key things that I struggled with was overconfidence in my memory. In a meeting, I was sure I wouldn’t forget a task discussed, but when I sat down later to begin the task, the details escaped me. Sometimes I even had an email with instructions and a deadline, but if it was filed before the task was completed, it would fall off my radar completely. To remedy this, I started a to-do list. It sits beside my keyboard, in my line of sight throughout the day, and I check it hourly to keep myself on track for what absolutely must get done before I leave the office. Each day has its own page and tasks are prioritized by bullet points, asterisks and exclamation points. As I complete each item, I check it off. At the end of the day, any tasks that aren’t completed are moved to the next day’s list. As a visual and tactile learner, I prefer most of my lists on paper. If you’re in a paperless office or want the ease-of-use that comes with being able to see your list anytime, anywhere, try a web-based option that also offers a mobile interface, such as Google Docs. Find what works best for you and stick to it. Five well-tested tips to stay on- task and crush your to-do list. by Kacie Brinner Hack Your Workday 72 | APRIL 2020 | THINK