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What is a good way to organize my time when working?
#time-management #education #school
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Jasanpreet Kaur Bhatia
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Jasanpreet Kaur’s Answer
Hi Jillian,
The best way to do this is to start your day by preparing your To-Do list. Keep it beside you throughout the day so that you can work in an organized way.
I hope it helps!
All the best!
The best way to do this is to start your day by preparing your To-Do list. Keep it beside you throughout the day so that you can work in an organized way.
I hope it helps!
All the best!
Updated
Abbie’s Answer
Hi! I agree with all answers above. I usually spend 10 minutes every Sunday looking at my week ahead to get an idea of how busy it'll be and then each morning spend just 5 minutes organizing my day. I also book out 1 hr every day to get items on the to do list done because otherwise I'll be in meetings back to back and won't have time. Biggest recommendation is figure out what works best for you by changing up little details every day in that 5 minute time frame like writing the to do list vs typing it.
Updated
Brianna’s Answer
I utilize both a planner and my work calendar to organize my time while working. I make sure to plan out everything I'll want to do in a day (including both work tasks and personal tasks). I also recommend getting into the habit of prioritizing your tasks and having a list of tasks that you may be able to do today if you have time but is okay if you don't have time to. Sometimes its hard to get everything done on your to do list and that's ok!
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Jillian:
I start my day by organizing my To-Do-List, which is in Outlook. I shuffle and flag high priority tasks first and go down the list to least important tasks. I set the reminder function so I do not miss deadlines. Here's an article I found with a few additional tips for your consideration.
• KEEP A TO DO LIST - Taking five to 10 minutes at the beginning of each day to write out a to-do list, on paper or digitally, can help promote focus and foster productivity. Adding to the initial to-do list throughout the day can help you keep a clear idea of your goals.
• ORGANIZE AND KEEP YOUR WORKSPACE CLEAN - Take a few minutes at the end of each day to clean your desk, removing anything that you won't absolutely need. Get rid of any trash and place pens in a drawer or organizer and stack papers so they look tidier. You can even fill up your water bottle so you don't have to worry about it in the morning.
• KEEP WITH THE SCHEDULE - Some people work best when they wake up early, while others find success working at night. Determine the time of day when you feel you're at your best and try to get most of your work done during those hours.
• SCHEDULE BREAKS - Taking 10-15 minutes every couple of hours to stretch your body and focus on something other than work can help keep you energized and excited about your job. Find a way to eat meals somewhere other than your desk to give yourself a mental break from work when possible.
• REDUCE MULTITASKING - Multitasking may sound like the perfect way to get many things done at once, but unfortunately, this not true in many situations. You may even find that multitasking can actually take longer than completing tasks individually. Some multitasking is an inevitable part of daily work, but the good news is you can avoid having to multitask more than is necessary by staying organized.
• MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS - Another helpful strategy for organizing your workday is addressing and minimizing distractions. Emails, texts and phone calls are a few common reasons behind distraction. Fortunately, there are things you can do to address these distractions.
• AUTOMATE YOUR WORK WHERE YOU CAN - Perhaps you send similar versions of the same email to multiple people, or you're often distracted by someone who needs your signature. With the help of technology, you can automate tasks like these to maximize your time and decrease distractions.
• TACKLE TASKS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE - Instead of starting your day with smaller tasks like answering emails, begin by addressing your largest or most stress-inducing task. This might take the largest amount of time in your day, but it ultimately will help your workflows move faster. Completing the largest jobs first can keep you motivated to finish the smaller tasks on your to-do list quickly without using up all your energy.
• ORGANIZE YOUR WORKDAY BY TIME - This is an especially helpful tactic if there are several meetings interspersed throughout your workday. Scheduling your tasks by the hour can help your day feel more predictable. It can also improve your productivity by serving as a reminder of your current task whenever you get distracted.
• SET GOALS & REWARD YOURSELF - Setting goals can help you become better at your job through motivation. You can set goals for staying organized, like challenging yourself to make a to-do list every day. Or, you can set professional goals that can help you stay engaged at your job.
• SCHEDULE YOUR DAYS IN BATCHES OF WORK - Some people find success with organizing not just their workday, but their workweek. If your job is a mix of phone calls and administrative work, for instance, perhaps you could attend to phone calls Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and spend Tuesdays and Thursdays on administrative tasks.
• IDENTIFY STRESSORS - Many people's tendency to procrastinate stems from stressors such as self-doubt, perfectionism or fear of criticism. Maybe you're worried about negative feedback on that recurring task, or you're concerned you won't be able to make that big deadline. Identifying what's stressing you out can help you find solutions to reduce this stress and make the harder tasks easier to complete.
• MAKE A WEEKLY/MONTHLY PLAN - A daily to-do list can work wonders for completing day-to-day tasks, but it can also be helpful to make a larger list at the beginning of each week or month to structure your time to meet your goals.
• USE YOUR CURRENT WORKFLOWS TO PROMOTE ORGANIZATION - Your workplace may already have workflows or tools in place to help you stay organized at work. Many email applications include a calendar component you can use to schedule your time. Some chat applications have built-in reminder features that can keep you on task. You can ask coworkers or managers how they organize their work and incorporate their advice into your own organizational habits.
• INTRODUCE BALANCE TO YOUR SCHEDULE - One key to staying organized long term is trying to achieve balance. Many people who attempt to implement organizational habits into their professional lives experience burnout when they sacrifice their work-life balance for short-term productivity. A lack of balance can cause you to forget or neglect your organizational habits. The good news is you can always use any of these strategies to renew your organizational skills at work.
Best of luck to you!
How to Organize Your Day • https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-organize-your-day-at-work?aceid=
I start my day by organizing my To-Do-List, which is in Outlook. I shuffle and flag high priority tasks first and go down the list to least important tasks. I set the reminder function so I do not miss deadlines. Here's an article I found with a few additional tips for your consideration.
• KEEP A TO DO LIST - Taking five to 10 minutes at the beginning of each day to write out a to-do list, on paper or digitally, can help promote focus and foster productivity. Adding to the initial to-do list throughout the day can help you keep a clear idea of your goals.
• ORGANIZE AND KEEP YOUR WORKSPACE CLEAN - Take a few minutes at the end of each day to clean your desk, removing anything that you won't absolutely need. Get rid of any trash and place pens in a drawer or organizer and stack papers so they look tidier. You can even fill up your water bottle so you don't have to worry about it in the morning.
• KEEP WITH THE SCHEDULE - Some people work best when they wake up early, while others find success working at night. Determine the time of day when you feel you're at your best and try to get most of your work done during those hours.
• SCHEDULE BREAKS - Taking 10-15 minutes every couple of hours to stretch your body and focus on something other than work can help keep you energized and excited about your job. Find a way to eat meals somewhere other than your desk to give yourself a mental break from work when possible.
• REDUCE MULTITASKING - Multitasking may sound like the perfect way to get many things done at once, but unfortunately, this not true in many situations. You may even find that multitasking can actually take longer than completing tasks individually. Some multitasking is an inevitable part of daily work, but the good news is you can avoid having to multitask more than is necessary by staying organized.
• MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS - Another helpful strategy for organizing your workday is addressing and minimizing distractions. Emails, texts and phone calls are a few common reasons behind distraction. Fortunately, there are things you can do to address these distractions.
• AUTOMATE YOUR WORK WHERE YOU CAN - Perhaps you send similar versions of the same email to multiple people, or you're often distracted by someone who needs your signature. With the help of technology, you can automate tasks like these to maximize your time and decrease distractions.
• TACKLE TASKS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE - Instead of starting your day with smaller tasks like answering emails, begin by addressing your largest or most stress-inducing task. This might take the largest amount of time in your day, but it ultimately will help your workflows move faster. Completing the largest jobs first can keep you motivated to finish the smaller tasks on your to-do list quickly without using up all your energy.
• ORGANIZE YOUR WORKDAY BY TIME - This is an especially helpful tactic if there are several meetings interspersed throughout your workday. Scheduling your tasks by the hour can help your day feel more predictable. It can also improve your productivity by serving as a reminder of your current task whenever you get distracted.
• SET GOALS & REWARD YOURSELF - Setting goals can help you become better at your job through motivation. You can set goals for staying organized, like challenging yourself to make a to-do list every day. Or, you can set professional goals that can help you stay engaged at your job.
• SCHEDULE YOUR DAYS IN BATCHES OF WORK - Some people find success with organizing not just their workday, but their workweek. If your job is a mix of phone calls and administrative work, for instance, perhaps you could attend to phone calls Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and spend Tuesdays and Thursdays on administrative tasks.
• IDENTIFY STRESSORS - Many people's tendency to procrastinate stems from stressors such as self-doubt, perfectionism or fear of criticism. Maybe you're worried about negative feedback on that recurring task, or you're concerned you won't be able to make that big deadline. Identifying what's stressing you out can help you find solutions to reduce this stress and make the harder tasks easier to complete.
• MAKE A WEEKLY/MONTHLY PLAN - A daily to-do list can work wonders for completing day-to-day tasks, but it can also be helpful to make a larger list at the beginning of each week or month to structure your time to meet your goals.
• USE YOUR CURRENT WORKFLOWS TO PROMOTE ORGANIZATION - Your workplace may already have workflows or tools in place to help you stay organized at work. Many email applications include a calendar component you can use to schedule your time. Some chat applications have built-in reminder features that can keep you on task. You can ask coworkers or managers how they organize their work and incorporate their advice into your own organizational habits.
• INTRODUCE BALANCE TO YOUR SCHEDULE - One key to staying organized long term is trying to achieve balance. Many people who attempt to implement organizational habits into their professional lives experience burnout when they sacrifice their work-life balance for short-term productivity. A lack of balance can cause you to forget or neglect your organizational habits. The good news is you can always use any of these strategies to renew your organizational skills at work.
Best of luck to you!
Sheila recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Hira’s Answer
1. Keep a single to-do list. Start with a sticky note in your computer and dump all the items you need to do for the day. The best way to complete your to-do list is through focused work. When you start on one thing, make a point to focus only on that one thing, this will help to tackle distractions.
2. If there's an item on your to-do list that can be completed in 5 minutes or less, do it immediately and check it off the list.
3. Checking items off the list is a great way to keep yourself motivated. Looking at all the items you've accomplished through the day will energise you to continue working on the rest.
4. Avoid multitasking because it divides your focus and destroys your momentum.
5. Create a system that works for you, whether it's batching similar tasks together or dividing a huge task into smaller chunks.
6. Practice makes perfect.
2. If there's an item on your to-do list that can be completed in 5 minutes or less, do it immediately and check it off the list.
3. Checking items off the list is a great way to keep yourself motivated. Looking at all the items you've accomplished through the day will energise you to continue working on the rest.
4. Avoid multitasking because it divides your focus and destroys your momentum.
5. Create a system that works for you, whether it's batching similar tasks together or dividing a huge task into smaller chunks.
6. Practice makes perfect.
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
You can utilize some tools to help you to manage your time, e.g. Calendar on your phone, Microsoft Outlook, etc. You can find out which one that suits you the best.
Having the tool is available, I suggest you can consider the approach below :
1. Put in the time your need to work
2. Put in time you need to attend part time learning / training (if any)
3. Assign some time for your hobbies, exercise, etc.
4. Assign some time for meeting with friends, family gathering, etc.
5. Make sure you sufficient time for rest
You do not need to fill up all the time in your schedule. You can reserve some 'Me' time for reflection and relax.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Having the tool is available, I suggest you can consider the approach below :
1. Put in the time your need to work
2. Put in time you need to attend part time learning / training (if any)
3. Assign some time for your hobbies, exercise, etc.
4. Assign some time for meeting with friends, family gathering, etc.
5. Make sure you sufficient time for rest
You do not need to fill up all the time in your schedule. You can reserve some 'Me' time for reflection and relax.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Updated
Donna L.’s Answer
Set aside time each morning to review your calendar and ensure you are prepared for upcoming meetings (especially if you are the host). In between meetings, utilize that time to address project work or to schedule meetings with upcoming deadlines. Try not to be distracted by incoming mail as you work; reading them at the beginning at the end of the day is helpful versus trying to respond during every meeting or activity. However, keep in mind you also need to watch for priority items, so review pop-ups or scan for high importance emails or hot topics that may need a quick turnaround. Save the rest for when you start of finish your day. As you finish your day, also think about your tomorrow and rest of week to ensure you are set up for success. This will help you to enjoy your non-work time even more.
Take advantage of the tools you have at work such as Outlook calendars and task building. Create reminders and placeholders on your calendar to set aside time for completing your deliverables. Also, stay positive, calm and transparent when the office gets busy; never waste mental energy - have a conversation when the workload gets too uncomfortable levels or you do not understand a task.
Take advantage of the tools you have at work such as Outlook calendars and task building. Create reminders and placeholders on your calendar to set aside time for completing your deliverables. Also, stay positive, calm and transparent when the office gets busy; never waste mental energy - have a conversation when the workload gets too uncomfortable levels or you do not understand a task.
Updated
Zeke’s Answer
I would echo the above responses when it comes to organizing yourself. It is a combination of what is the best fit for you and keeping true to the strategies you have in place. Depending on the tasks, if they are meant to be completed over a few hours, I will place them on a sticky note and cross them off. For larger projects and tasks, I use a spreadsheet tracker to organize myself. Calendars are also a great way of making sure you know what is coming up for you.
Overall, ensuring you are tracking tasks somewhere and being able to reference back to those items can help provide you structure and you can reflect on what you have accomplished to date.
Overall, ensuring you are tracking tasks somewhere and being able to reference back to those items can help provide you structure and you can reflect on what you have accomplished to date.