Being unsure of exactly what you need to do and in what order it needs to be done is both confusing and immobilising, so how do you paint yourself a clearer picture to work from?
Learning how to prioritise your tasks is one of the best strategies for organising your day and keeping a calm state of mind; below are some tips on how to do this….
1. Change the way you perceive multitasking
Humans are wired to focus on one thing at a time. In fact, quickly switching from task to task can actually have a detrimental affect on our productivity levels as opposed to increasing them.
Rather think of multitasking as tackling various different tasks at different times during the day.
2. Work from just one to do list
There's nothing more confusing than trying to accomplish tasks logically when you're working from to do lists written on post-its and pieces of scrap paper.
Ensure that all the tasks you have to complete are listed on one to do list, making it easier to see at a glance what needs to be done and how much progress you're making.
3. Identify ‘problem' tasks quickly
What are the tasks that keep slipping to the bottom of your (one and only) to do list? Why do you keep letting these tasks slip through the cracks?
Consider delegating or outsourcing these tasks if possible.
4. Set achievable goals and deadlines
Prioritising tasks is easier when you know how they rate on a scale of importance. Be sure, however, to set yourself goals and deadlines that take into account your current workload - you may need to create a worklog (with a recording of how long specific tasks take) for realistic estimates.
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