Given the current state of things, the average worker is experiencing heavier work loads and added responsibility. It’s more important now than it has been in the past to manage yourself effectively. Given that scenario, focus has to be on getting more done with fewer resources. It’s important to get to the top priorities, manage time and projects, empower and keep yourself from burning out.
The challenge is that we have too much to do. Even our children have too much to do these days. The key to getting past having too much to do is to determine what things are worthy of your time. Before you can decide what things are worth your time, you have to know what your values are. Look at every area of your life and think about the things that are important to you and create a list, then use that list when you are deciding what things are worth your time. If you choose to place things on your agenda that are in line with your values, you are more likely to accomplish goals that you set around those things than you would be if they weren’t values based. When you base what you do upon the things that are important to you, you are placing the focus on personal balance, which has to be your first priority.
A vital factor in managing workflow effectively is having an organized environment. Whether you work in a company office or your office at home, it must be organized. Think about the stress involved, not to mention the extra time it takes, when you simply can’t find something. Now, it may take a number of hours to get an environment completely organized, but it’s time well spent and it will keep you from wasting time in the future looking for that particular file or what ever it might be. With your environment organized, you’ll be able to access what you need in a matter of seconds.
In addition to your values and getting organized, be sure to set time to schedule and plan your week and your day. At the end of one week, sit down and plan for the next and do the same thing each day. At the end of your day, look to see what you have set for the next day. There may be some adjustments that you have to make to your schedule because something was canceled or perhaps there is something that needs to be added. If a task is going to take longer than 15 minutes to complete, it should go into your calendar and not just on your to-do list. If it doesn’t go into your calendar, you take the risk of something not getting done that day and the added stress that comes with the day being upset.
Distractions and interruptions will disrupt your flow. Turn off the email notification, or better yet, close your email while you’re working on other things. For those hours that you’re working on top priorities, turn off the ringer on the phone or place it on do not disturb. If someone transfers calls to you, ask for your calls to be transferred into your voice mail and check them later in the day. If necessary, close your office door for a while so that you can focus on what you’re doing. Constant interruptions can destroy your concentration and cause added stress.
Finally, you have to keep your well being a priority. During the course of your day, no matter how busy you are, you have to take breaks to stretch, take a short walk and make time to eat right. Nothing that you have to do can be more important than your well being. Even if you implemented each of the aforementioned in managing your workflow, things won’t flow smoothly if you don’t incorporate your well being. It is a key factor in making it all flow.