I usually want to take care of things right now. I tend to get stressed out if i have to order parts and wait for them or wait for input from other team members to complete something. I just know that if I have to leave it for later that i'm going to forget.
I like the idea of a weekly list of tasks. Being a bit OCD, the idea of having all of my tasks written down and organized appeals to me. This way i can leave a task for later if needed and not worry about forgetting it still needs to be done.
I prioritize on my task and complete them as such. But I must admit that sometimes I try to do too much and it can make for a stressful workday. I am also guilty of procrastination from time to time. I think it depends on my schedule in general, work and professional. But from going through the first module, I can see that I am still the author of my schedule not everyone else and their demands. Taking the reins of my power just may be what the doctor ordered.
Monique
I tend to follow your ideals in most cases, always completing those tasks that are most urgent and important and all others follow, once the most urgent/important are complete, I have time to mix things up as fit.
Lindsey, It's ok to cross off a few easy items on the list as confidence builders. But ultimately, you've got to start chipping away at the difficult stuff. My recommendation is to break difficult tasks up into pieces and chip away at those pieces. This makes tasks a little less daunting.
Dr. Melissa Read
I do think I have been guilty of putting off more difficult tasks, even if they are more urgent, to concentrate on finishing easier tasks. I like the feeling of crossing things off my list, and since I haven't been prioritizing my list, anything that gets crossed off looks good!
I will work on this issue, as I believe it is a problem with procrastination; even though I use a list, I still put off tasks until later. I will try the numbering technique to prioritize my tasks and see how that works.
Kevin, Sounds like you have developed a system that works well for you. Great work! I particularly like hearing about your method of staggering tasks. When we spread tasks out over a series of days, it makes them feel less daunting and this can really keep our motivation up.
Dr. Melissa Read
Monica, Sounds like a great plan. I like the part about evaluating the consequences of not completing tasks. That method really helps put things into perspective and helps you focus on the most important things first.
Dr. Melissa Read
Naila, Yes, without prioritization, it's tough to focus on conducting the most important work. We can still complete tasks without prioritization, just not always in the most productive order.
Dr. Melissa Read
In prioritizing tasks one completes the important work first and it helps to clear the mind for the other tasks.
I am guilty of procrastination, sure. But I started using a Franklin planner many years ago, and now use an online planner tied to my calendar. This module is reinforcing some very important principles, for if you respect your own time management, you'll respect others' too.
Betty, It sounds like you have a good handle on who you are and your time and stress management style. That's a great start. It also sounds like you know where you want to be and how to get there. Yes, as the new year approaches, it's time to slip back into your good habits.
Dr. Melissa Read
Tina, New jobs can be tough. It takes a little while to get into a routine and figure out what works and what doesn't. It's a normal process. With time and practice, things get easier.
Dr. Melissa Read
I must admit, I am definitely a procrastinator. I have used task lists before and sometimes have issues losing my list or doing the "fun" things first. Prioritizing might help me some. I like the idea of putting a number next to my task based on urgency. I always hated rewriting my list.
During college and especially in a business enviroment, you need to learn quickly how to prioritize or things can get lost in the shuffle. I believe prioritizing also allows you to do your best work, since it gives you the sufficient time you need to work on things.
The tasks that are important/urgent are a priority to me, I complete them on time. Other tasks that are not in this catagory are completed based on their importance. This module has alerted me to the importance of prioritizing and to keep working hard to complete tasks in a timmly manner.
I keep a daily to-do list at my desk. I usually try to dedicate the bulk of my work day to the most important tasks, however, some of those tasks take several days to complete. In that case, I try to stagger them out so they are done both on a timely basis and with a larger degree of accuracy.
Smaller tasks or lesser important tasks I usually knock off at the start of my work day or at the end.
I do think I will prioritize differently. I am in a recently new full time job, and I am still getting the hang of things and learning what is truly important. I found that the module did break down tasks in a way that I think is very manageable.
I really need to apply the techniques for task prioritization. I just learned that prioritizing tasks must take into account task importance and task urgency. I have not been doing so. I will go back to my task list and then reorganize the tasks according to their importance and urgency. In that way I will not focus on tasks that need to wait and leave those that need immediate attention
Hello Stefano Campagna,
Sometimes I wonder which of the two is a better evil - procrastination or immediacy. Procrastination makes someone feel he/she has more time at his/her disposal; immediacy makes one battle with time all the time even when plenty of time is available. Procrastination causes tension later; immediacy causes tension in the present. I am learning that the best way out of both eveils is to balance the two.
Gladys Nwabah
The main obstacle I have is the obstacle of immediacy. I will rather stay up all night to make sure I complete a task even when I could continue the task the next day. I have learned to balance between immediacy and procrastination. This is, in fact, one of the reasons I started this course and I decided to space it a little bit. Before now, I would never have left it off without completing the whole exercise in one day. The practice is rewarding for me.
