How to Prioritize Your Workload So You Can Accomplish As Much As Possible

Too often we make our to do list and, with all the best intentions of just whipping out our trusted pencil and crossing off item after item, we start with the simplest thing because, after all, we can get that done quickly and that's our goal, right? Then we start on the next simplest thing... and on and on.

We may get a lot done, but did we get the right things done? Did we get done the things that will most impact our lives? Isn't that what we're trying to achieve?

In this article I'm going to teach you how to prioritize your workload so you can accomplish as much as possible. This is an essential component in any time management plan.

First,

Have an overall plan. This will include all tasks, both large and small, that you need to complete during your selected time period whether that's over the next week, month, or year.

For most of us, that's going to be a weekly plan. We're just trying to live through soccer season with the twice weekly practices followed by the weekly games.

(I know, as soon as that season is over, another activity kicks in and you have a whole different schedule.)

Second,

With your master to-do list see if you can fashion some kind of workable schedule out of all the tasks you've listed. Literally filling in the spaces in a planner will enable you to see exactly where each task fits best based on what's going on around it.

This will allow you to spread out the tasks that are going to require more time and effort so that you don't end up with several big projects to do on a Friday. Or, alternately, so you don't burn yourself out on Monday or Tuesday thereby making yourself less productive the rest of the week simply because you panicked about getting everything done and run yourself ragged.

Done correctly, you should be able to clearly see where you can interweave big projects with small projects so that your overall day is comprised of larger tasks alternated with smaller ones. This will greatly increase your productivity level while simultaneously decreasing your stress level.

You will get more done and be a happier healthier person while doing it for the simple reason that you're not all stressed out.

So there you have it. We've covered the two steps needed for you to learn how to prioritize you workload so you can accomplish as much as possible.

Now, go be productive.

Are you ready to begin managing your time better? Download my free ebook about Time Management for some wonderful ideas. Also visit me at There Must Be A Better Way

5 Steps to Take to Start to Prioritize Your Workload

A Must at the Beginning of any Time Management Plan

Is to figure out how to prioritize your workload. While it's not difficult...it can be very intimidating. You've got this list that's only in your head and, because of that, it can appear to be magnified and disjointed and even...dare I say... scary.

The reason prioritization is important is because you really can't figure out what to do first, what can be postponed, and what to let slide until you have...as the old saying goes...your ducks in a row.

In this article I'm going to teach you the steps to take to start to prioritize your workload.

First, Make a List Of Everything You Have To Do...Everything.

You can make this a work-related schedule or...like I do, include all tasks even cooking dinner and picking up kids. Just quickly jot them all down as fast as you can think of them. Don't slow down as our brain works much faster than we can write.

Second, Figure Out the Importance of Each Task

Not all tasks have the same importance. For instance, let's say you really wanted to bake those Christmas cupcakes for your child's class but, with the approaching holidays, you have way too much to do and can't possibly fit it in. After looking at your to do list you determine that...as much as you hate it...that's one thing that could slide if absolutely necessary.

The time savings of making a trip to a warehouse club like Sam's club or Costco (or even Walmart) simply can't be ignored. Console yourself with the fact that your child would probably love to help pick them out too.

Third, Figure Out Where Each Task Fits Best

If something has to be done by 10 am then it fits in the morning...period. Fit other things around that task. Fit as many tasks in as you can. Treat them like a jigsaw puzzle and see how tasks can fit together or flow together.

By fit together I mean multitasking and by flow together I mean one task naturally follows from the first...kind of like scheduling a dry cleaning run after stopping at the grocery store.

Fourth, Delegate If You Can

Spouse, family, and friends can be wonderful help if you ask (which we don't do often enough). Who knows, if you're really time conscious, you may even...unbelievably as it sounds...be able to help them out one day.

For instance, with the cupcakes mentioned above, suppose a friend had time to bake them while she was cooking for her family. You could frost them later with your child and still have that experience and save money at the same time.

At some point you may be able to similarly help this person out. with something such as picking up something from the grocery store for her while you're already there...thereby saving her a trip.

Fifth, Cross Off Your List

Anything that you'd like to do but you simply can't do yourself, delegate, or postpone. This includes tasks that have to be done by a certain time. You know you can only do so much. Just remember, you'll be remembered best (most often) by things you do...not by the things you didn't do. They'll remember the cupcakes no matter where they came from.

If You Follow These Steps

You'll get much more done and isn't that one of the main goals of any time management plan.

Are you ready to begin managing your time better? Download my free ebook about Time Management for some wonderful ideas. Also visit me at There Must Be A Better Way

3 Tips on How to Prioritize Your Work Load

There are many ideas on who, what, when, why, and how you should prioritize. It should go without saying that what works for one person may not work for you...so you should definitely try different methods and find out what works best for you.

Too, what works this week may not work next week. So any take-a-way should also include the understanding about the need to remain somewhat flexible and have a few different methods in place from which you can choose.

With that said, I'd like give you my 3 tips on how to prioritize your work load. It's the same system that works for me the vast majority of the time.

Tip #1-By Order of Importance

Obviously some things are of greater importance than others. For instance, in my case, I may have 4 tasks to accomplish on my to do list today such as:

Write 5 articles-This really is a priority task.

Record for 2 hours-This is also a priority task.

Answer coaching client's questions-This, too, is a high priority task.

Answer personal emails-This may have to get pushed aside if time is running short in my day.

Tip #2-By Deadline

It would seem logical that something with a deadline, by default, needs to be handled quickly. I remember when I was applying to college that there seemed so many deadlines for this and that it about drove me crazy.

What I do is take all my tasks that have deadlines and then go ahead and schedule them on a calendar for certain days so that they all get done before the deadline.

I am...ashamedly...sometimes a procrastinator on those tasks which, yes they have a deadline, but I'm still just not keen on doing them. For example, recently 2 of my grandchildren were doing a fundraiser by selling the magazines (yes, I hear the groans). I put that off for 2 weeks and finally thought to look at the deadline. It was for that very day.

Phew! I made it...barely. I ordered 2 magazines from each of them so now they'll each get a Spongebob Squarepants shirt.

Tip #3-By Greatest Impact

I have many tasks that I can choose from each and every day. The trick is to choose the tasks which will have the greatest impact on my life or my work in general. For instance, I don't want to waste time on tasks that won't provide a decent return for my time spent.

Watching TV, surfing the internet, reading the newspaper, spending a lot of time chatting on the phone...these are all big time-wasters in my mind and if you're serious about time management you absolutely must get these time suckers under control.

I hope these 3 tips on how to prioritize your work load have been, and will be, helpful to you.

By the way, do you want to learn more about time management? If so, then download my brand new free ebook about Time Management. Or, visit me at Must Be A Better Way