Check off everything on your to do list and get more done at work
Thank goodness it’s a short week! I was out Thursday and Friday celebrating my Mom’s birthday and I knew coming back I was going to see a stack on my desk the size of the leaning tower of Pisa; and due to the height, leaning just as bad. You’ve had that happen right, where you come back from vacation and you thought you had everything under control but the emails flew in, and of course the things only you can handle are approaching critical mass, and the length of your to-do list looks like a three year old’s Christmas List? Well these are my sure fire ways to cross off your to do list and get more done at work.
Here are my five tips for showing that monster to-do list who’s boss:
When I say everything I mean everything; I made the distinction between drafting each motion for a case, filing the same motions, and then emailing the same motions to defense counsel. See what I mean about everything? It gives you a very clear direction is what exactly you have to do and where on your list you are as you cross them off. Plus it makes you feel great when you get to check off more things!
Look at your to do list and make sure you put it in order of time sensitivity. With a to do list now the size of a fruit by the foot you need to figure out what needs to be completed Monday and what could wait until Wednesday afternoon.
You will not get anything done if you have social media up and running or if you are catching up on the office gossip with your office bestie. Tell your OBF (office best friend) that you are going to have a recap at lunch and turn off all social media and buckle down.
I swear by inbox zero, it is my goal every day. I either delete an email after I’m done with it or I put it into one of the many folders I have in outlook. But the email stays in my inbox until I’ve completed everything to do with what is contained in the email. If you cannot fathom inbox zero all the time then at least try to achieve it once a week.
Basically set a timer for a set number of minutes, like 30, and work on one task; then when the timer goes off take a five minute break. It gives your brain the chance to completely focus on one thing and then five minutes to regroup in order to focus on the next task. I use this timer at work.
How do you refocus after a vacation?
