How To Prioritize When Everything Is A Top Priority
2016 has been an interestingly strange year so far and it’s hard to believe it is already April, coming up on May. Work days seem to get shorter due to the workload that seems never ending (which could be a good thing depending on how you look at it). As I look at the many tasks I have pending and my full inbox of emails, I can’t help but sweat a little bit and wonder where to start. I suppose I could just begin with item #1 on the pile, but will that be most effective? Sure, starting somewhere is more effective than not starting at all, but there needs to be a plan, especially when everything appears to be the top priority. What do you do when this happens? Well, a few tips that seem to help me are:
• Take a moment first thing in the morning to read through your email and organize your tasks accordingly. Make a list of everything you have to do for the day or next few days.
• Be honest with yourself and your workload. Understand that not everything can be done now. You must take it one thing at a time. Separate these items by urgent and “not-so-urgent.”
• Keep your head on a swivel. The work environment is an ever-changing atmosphere with a lot of moving parts. Priorities change. New work comes up. You have to be able to go with the flow and adapt accordingly.
• Be conscious of time. That is why the clock is in the toolbar on your computer (in my opinion anyway). Pay attention to how much time you are spending on a project.
Taking these few steps should make things a little easier and keep your mind more at ease even when things are stressful. Most importantly, you must also stay positive for the state of the work you are doing and for your own good. It makes it more enjoyable. I have come to find that I actually work quicker and better when I have a positive frame of mind. I know this article should go without saying, but there are people out there that know they have a lot on their plate and just need to take a step back, reassess, find the starting line and go!
