I am pretty good about making to do lists and arranging them in order of important/urgent. My only downfall is I want to get everything done on my list that day right then ...so I can overload and stress myself to the max.
It depends on the task. Quite honestly, if it is a task that is going to be a lot of work or is something that I don't enjoy doing, I may put it off more than I would something that I can do while multitasking and something that I enjoy doing. In the future, I will use the prioritization option to improve in this area. Robin
tasks that are urgent and most important will be done first prior to another not so urgent and can be done later.
I have always been a stickler about prioritization. However, making a "To do list", and sticking to it is what I plan to implement into my teaching. Task importance, and task urgency are two key points that will help keep my prioritizing in tact. Also, revisiting my to do list weekly, and changing the order of importance for each task is a great point learned from this assessment.
I never really use a to do list or prioritize my tasks. I just complete things as they need completed. I have never had issues meeting promises or deadlines. Occasionally, I will delay doing certain things until the last minute, but I always get the job done. I realize that creating lists and prioritizing can help people manage time, but for me, it just is extra work.
Yes, immediacy can be very tempting Kristi. Many instructors fight the urge to complete everything at once. But when we take things on one at a time, we feel far less overwhelmed and accomplish our tasks with a higher degree of quality.
At the beginning of each week, I usually do make up a "to do list" to help me prioritize my schedule and tasks that need to be completed for the week. One thing I would like to change would be how I prioritize my tasks instead of trying to accomplishing them all at once. I think this would definitely help my time management and stress levels.
Yes, this sounds like a great system Michelle. You do some easy tasks as confidence builders to start and then work your way up to tasks that require that kind of confidence!
Thanks for sharing Connie! Perhaps you could create a schedule prior to the start of each semester of the approximate dates of each quiz. Then during the semester, just make certain to cover key information prior to each quiz date.
I have effectively used a task list for years. I am a person who likes a sense of accomplishment and crossing items as they are completed from my to do list gives this feeling. I really liked the prioritization information in this lesson and believe I will incorporate that into my to do list. I have urged many of my employee to use such a list to keep themselves organized. Thanks.
I am the "KING" of procrastination. I know how great it feels to be all caught up. I hope that by prioritizing my to do list I will be able to keep it manageable. Short list = less stress.
I am neither a procrastinator or an immediacy type person. I tend to read my emails after 5:00 pm when I arrive at school. I will reply at that time. I tend to be a control person, which works and feeds upon my type A personality. My full time job fulfills my adrenaline junkie personality. I tend toward expecting perfection and being disappointed when that doesn't occur and tend to be hard on myself. Perhaps the biggest thing that I may procratinate upon is writing quizzes. I want to make sure that I have covered the information before I give a quiz on it.
Hello Everyone,
I work with a to do list everyday, and a typical day for me includes completing the easiest tasks first and leaving the more indepth tasks for later in the morning. I find this gives me a feeling of accomplishment by completeing several little tasks first then the few big tasks during the rest of the day.
Yes, task urgency and task importance are slightly different Michael. Understanding how to balance prioritization between the two is key.
I think of urgent and most important as two seperate things. Urgent almost always takes precedence with me. Clearly, my goal is to spend more time and thought on what is most important. For example, preparing for a class tomorrow would take precedence over working on a syllabus for next term. I think this module will serve to enforce in my mind the need to prioritize. This may very well do away with the number of urgent situations that arise.
Absolutely! Teaching was a part time job and I had a full time job that had a variety of demands to include time spent in airports with flight delays. I taught courses, prepared courses, graded assignments and communicated with students while on the road in airports, on airplanes, in hotels, and in restaurants. I have since changed jobs and ordered my time in a more efficient manner. My priority is changing careers and thus, I changed jobs to allow more time for teaching. I now teach full time in a classroom and have far more time to give to online teaching. Now task prioritization centers around class preparation, teaching, grading and communication for both sets of students. I no longer have to get 4 hours of sleep a night to meet the needs required of two distincly different jobs and I am able to focus solely on teaching.
Yes, I will look a bit closer at the priority of the task and the time frame I have to complete.
I tend to put off making a decision until I am certain that I have considered the options or the ramifications of my decisions.
I would say that the material is a good reminder that reinforces good time management habits.
I am definitly guilty of "immediacy." I correct homework as soon as it's turned in and I hate to have work stretching out ahead of me. I will reeavaluate my time and determine whether or not I can change some of my habits.
This is a great plan Paige! Breaking down lists and tasks is really the best way to decrease the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Yes, lists can definitely help with procrastination Greg. To get back into it, try making a high level list first. No need to focus on the details, just list your highest level tasks. As the weeks go by and as you get used to using the list, you can layer in the detail.
