I tend to think everything needs to be done now,get overwhelmed,then put off too many tasks.I will change the order of my tasks
This is all great advice to give others Kristin. Thanks for sharing. I particularly like the part about identifying the number of hours in a week. It's not much when you think about it!
Excellent strategy Clifton! Yes, Keeping in close communication with your manager to listen to their priorities is key!
Dr. Read,
After thinking about the most important and urgent tasks that I need to complete, I asked myself, "Do you know that there are only 168 hours in a week?" :-) I guess this means that it is very important for me to observe how I use them. Here is what I try to do to help me avoid procrastination. These "tips" for me really help me to prioritize and keep everything in perspective.
Throughout my day, I always try a little affirmation. I will say to myself, “I have plenty of time for the things that matter to me.†This helps me a lot more than saying, “I don’t have any time.â€
I also LOVE calendars. Each session start, I tape a calendar inside my armoire where my computer is to keep track of what needs to get done each day. This helps me create a realistic plan for myself, based on my already existing pattern.
I also believe that "self" time is extremely important. So to achieve this during the busy week, I schedule a block of time that is non-negotiable. This is a sacred appointment that I keep with myself. I try to not let anything interfere.
At the same time, I must allow for the unexpected. Life is full of surprises, I have to be sure to complete my grading and preparing for live chats early in the week. I find that if I do put it off until the last minute, something unexpected will occur to change my plans.
One last thing...I chose to live deliberately rather than racing around, putting out fires. I always try to make a plan and get a little organized. It's important for me to stay focused on the path I have chosen and not let distractions steer me in wrong directions.
Best,
Kristin Horton
Seems like everyday our tasks change. What was important one day, changes to a less urgent matter. I try to be sure my manager lets me know what is at the top of the list, and accomplish that first. Then start working down my list.
Having a task list also helps me reduce stress at work and at home! I started this over the weekend with my family, and already started to see results.
For me, keeping it by my bed would cause more stress as I would constantly think of more things to add to the list. I am trying to use a notebook size calendar/dayplanner. It is taking me a while to get use to it as I forget to look at it and one time I missed an important downtime with friends. I am forgetting to use outlook. I am having a hard time getting use to Word 7. I used to use that all the time. Maybe I will get a book to brush up on my abilities. The calendar thing is working better as I can keep it with me and add things when needed. If a student says they will be out I ask them to make sure I put it in "The Book". There is a monthly calendar and then a day by day that has more room to plan.
I tackle the most important task firsts and periodically I review to ensure that what ranks as the most important is still of greatest importance.
Sounds like you have a good system in place Steve. Keep it up!
I consider myself to be relatively adept at tasking. I'm definitely guilty of pushing lesser tasks along to future dates or times when given the opportunity, but I'm very diligent about high-importance task completion in a timely fashion.
Steve
I saw a number of things that can help me in my goal to become better organized and to more efficiently manage my time. I think it is a good idea to revisit my to do list and re-prioritize on a regular basis. This is the really big difference between a procrastinator and a good time manager; their ability to adjust to what is going on around them. It is the ability to make the adjustments throughout the day.
I tend to do what I perceive as the most important task first. However, unless I keep up with my to-do list, I find that I may have a mis-perception of what is important. If I keep up with my to-do tracking, it keeps my view in effective alignment.
I think this is a good point Jennifer. Being too connected can improperly set student expectations. It can also leave you feeling overworked. It's best to provide the appropriate level of support and then leave some time for you.
I am the type of person who tries to accomplish tasks right away. But as the lesson discussed with the concept of immediacy, starting too soon can also hinder performance. One thing I am currently trying to work on is striking a healthy balance between responding to my students' emails but not being "too connected." I often find myself checking my email before I go to bed at 10:00pm, and spending another hour writing email responses. A lot of times, I am tired and make mistakes that could have been avoided if I waited. I think that an instructor must weigh out the pros and cons of each task they face. Things like the context, situation, task, recipient, physical and mental state, and time all need to be considered in the process of prioritization.
If you've got a system that works great for you then no need to change Kristy. Just go ahead and keep it up, making tweaks if you think of ways to optimize it.
I dont think I will change the way I prioritize. I make a small to do list every evening that is attainable for the next day. When all is completed, there is more that has built up so I then accomplish what I can at a relaxed pace and the rest can be added to the next day.
I often teach 5-6 classes a day, in addition to being a Graduate student myself. I 're' prioritize my tasks and to do list often several times a day, even sitting at a traffic light this afternoon.
That sounds tough Richard but it's a common problem for instructors. Often times, our students, colleagues and administrations prioritize things differently than we do. Setting expectations and talking things out can sometimes help.
When it comes to task that I have to deal with my definition of what is most important and urgent oftentimes differs from someone else. It is not a matter of not being responsible. It is just more a matter of my ideologies versus the perceived reality of somebody else. If I have the time, desire, and fortitude likely I will tackle items right away. As of current, this works exceptionally well.
Dr. Read,
I tend to take care of important task right away. Even with this training, it states to prioritize the task list. I do not think I will change the order of how I accomplish important task but I will look twice on how I prioritize my tasks.
Dr. Vadell
Yes, this is a great way of knocking things off the list Hanaa. Helps to focus on what's important and urgent first and then work your way down from there.
