Many instructors in my course have reported using their inbox like a to do list. What's nice is that it's often available no matter where you are. All you need is access to the internet to find it.
I use a list almost everyday. I find if I don't have a list of items to accomplish then I feel overwhelemed with the tasks at hand. I also keep items in my inbox until I have accomplished the task. This way when I log intot he inbox I know there are items I must accomplish.
I do feel like I try to accomplish the tasks that are important and urgent as soon as possible. My problem may be more with immediacy, as I will stay at work until the task is complete, even when I know I will have time to complete it the next day. I may be classifying things as urgent when they don't deserve it yet. I think on my to do list, I need to give things a deadline along with the priority, such as "today", "tomorrow", "this week", "next week", etc. Doing this might help me be able to put things down and go home.
Laura, I have found that I am more of an "immediacy" person where I try to do everything at once without thought to the prioritization of the tasks. This way I think I am being more efficient when in reality I am not.
I have to get back inthe habit of this. I was doing well at it and lately been running around crazy. I am overly optimistic too, and it is good to see someone else has this issue.
I usually choose to accomplish these task according to their urgency. I took some time management seminar in the past to help me to be in better control of my time while accomplishing task in a timely manner.
This is true Laura. It's ok to do a few smaller easy tasks at first. But then it's important to move to bigger more important tasks.
I tend to do those tasks which can be completed quickest/easiest first ... thus keeping my to-do list short. Next on the list are the most urgent, THEN whatever's left
Deadlines can be hard to make sometimes Barry. Breaking tasks down into manageable chunks is sometimes the best approach to dealing with them.
This is a good point Wanda. Even to do list completion is a task that we must focus on completing.
I tend to do the easy things first to get them checked off, but don't procrastinate where I'm doing the more important things right before they're due. I will change the way I do things. Any way to make things easier and less stressful is great!
Hi Wanda,
I feel your pain! It took me a while to get out of the dinosaur age and I still want to crawl back there at times.
I found that the key to prioritizing correspondence is staying mindful of what my goals are professionally and personally. These are the emails, memos, and letters that have the highest priority. Most others will just be deleted. I do a search for the sender or subject and delete them all after I respond to taking me off of the list which is usually an option at the bottom of the email page.
Wanda
The to do list is a great time manager if we remember to do it. Maybe we should add to the to do list "Complete the to do list" at least until we establish the habit. This may take 21 days consistently. I will start today and report as I move along.
Wanda
Hi Judy:
I have found it is a challenge as a baby boomer to adapt to the newest technology. My 16 year old son who is attending an Early College Charter School is excellent with technology. I will have to ask him about this tool. Frankly, I use a wall calendar to keep me on track. I had tried Microsoft Outlook yet have not had the discipline to add my appointments and deadlines.
Wanda
This is an important point Joseph. Not everything can be a priority. Some things must wait and fall lower on the list.
This is true. Lists are handy when you are worried about forgetting and when you need help prioritizing.
I completely agree Judy! There are so many great tools available to us in commonly used software programs. It's really about finding those tools and leveraging them.
I tend to wait until deadlines are upon me. I have and will move those deadlines up for more timely task completions
Outlook has a marvelous tool for identifying tasks and marking them off as completed. If only I would utilize this tool more.
