Are you able to meet all deadlines before time? Or do you find yourself bogged down by the sheer magnanimity of the work that lies ahead of you? Read on to know if you are a good manager of your work day or not.
We are all too familiar with the ‘to-do list’. A routine working day begins with the creation of one, putting to paper all tasks that need to be accomplished. The list is only as effective as we use it to be.
Here we discuss some useful techniques you can employ to manage your daily work efficiently.
Managing priorities
You may think that the to-do list is sufficient to organize your day; well it does spell out your tasks for the day, but you further need to manage your list and rank your work in order of priority. What needs to be tackled right away? What can wait till after lunch? By distinguishing between the ‘urgent’, ‘important’ and the ‘can wait’, you not only accomplish your day’s agenda, you also work efficiently without the cloud of deadline hovering over you.
Managing time
· Best time for maximum productivity- For some, morning is when they feel super charged to take on the most elaborate projects; for others, midday could be when their efficiency is at its peak. Identify your own work rhythm and plan your day’s work around it.
· Checking mail- You need not respond to every email as it drops in your inbox. Check your mail at specific intervals during the day, and you may consider turning off the automated new mail delivery notification that pops up on your computer screen every time you get a new mail.
· Delegate work- Be realistic about how much work can be accomplished on a given day. You can effectively reduce your workload and gain more time on your hands by involving people in the project.
· Multitasking- Contrary to popular belief, working with focus on one task at a time imparts more effectiveness into one’s work. Not only are you more productive, you accomplish more in less time. So keep a check on the number of tasks you juggle in a day.
Use technology to your advantage
Being tech-savvy through email, teleconferencing/videoconferencing, etc. at work will help you organize documents better, communicate efficiently with co-workers and clients, and overall manage your day smartly.
Approach your day with the right mindset
Lastly, don’t let stress get the better of you and your day; approach your work objectively and under no circumstances feel bogged down the quantity of work that remains to be done. A battle lost in the mind is half lost in the field!
Our job responsibilities require us to deliver results in less time and in the best possible manner; how we manage our working day in terms of approach to the tasks at hand greatly determines our productivity. With the right techniques and a positive outlook, a deadline may no longer be looked at as a ‘dead-line’.
(Source – shine.com, Nimrata Grewal)