Control of "to do" list
I prepare a "to do" list almost everyday. This is the only way that I can manage the various activities of the workday.
What the course did not discuss is the frequent changes that must be made to a daily list when a client or student request considerable time that was not anticipated.
I agree Dr. Read, setting aside time for the unexpected is extremely important. In the kitchen we teach the students to "Clean as you go" and always be aware of your surroundings. As a team the students have to create a timeline for beginning, middle, and end of their practical exam. Having a "To Do" helps the students prepare their team for success. If they have set aside five or ten extra minutes to recover from a situation that may come up, then they have covered this siutation with the extra time and stayed on track with their "To Do" list.
Hi Del,
I have begun to use the dry erase board in my office for a 'to-do' list. Using this board offers me a few advantages. It is large and not on my desk so it is easy to see and to find! I use different colors or star icons to highlight or prioritize tasks. It is easy to amend and also helps to make it readily apparent to others that are important to me, what I am working on without much effort at all.
Christine
I often group requests for time into categories of importance. Without "blowing off" some of the less important requests I have decveloped strategies for dismissing them for a short while.
This is an important point Del. For a to do list to be effective, you really have to keep up with it. Adding a ten percent buffer into your schedule can reduce these kinds of revisions.
