Do you want to stay on top of your work?

Are tasks, assignments, and errands falling by the wayside?

Taking care of work and personal responsibilities on a regular basis can be a challenge, especially when you’re being pulled in so many different directions.

We all know work and personal responsibilities aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

But, you can take your skills to the next level by carefully monitoring the control and flow of these items. 

In this blog post, you’ll find a helpful process you can use to stay on top of things.

These tips will help you stay front and center…and on top of your work.

Turn your attention to urgent work.

Yes, you may be busy with work, but have you ever considered that you’re working on the wrong items, at the wrong moment?

For instance, you may be furiously updating your professional bio for an upcoming conference, but the bio isn’t due for another month.

Meanwhile, you haven’t booked airplane tickets or made hotel reservations for the conference.

That’s certainly a disconnect when it comes to urgent tasks!

When your workload appears to be backed up, stop what you’re doing for a moment so you can recalculate your priorities.

What tasks and to-do must be completed right now?

And by right now, I mean right now. Not in an hour’s time, not later today, not tomorrow…but right now.

Viewing your work in this manner can give you some much-needed perspective.

List out projects.

Having trouble figuring out what items you should be working at the present moment?

You’d do well to identify all of your current projects.

What projects are you working on? Don’t forget to include work, school, or personal projects, if necessary.

As you review your projects, be sure to focus on the bigger picture.

When are each of these projects due? How far along are you in each assignment?

Could one or two projects use a bit more attention right now that the others?

Take your time evaluating each of your projects. It will help you get a more accurate read of your current situation.

Set a couple of reminders.

Do you keep a running list of tasks in your head? Do you find it difficult to keep track of everything on your to-do list?

If so, you may want to give yourself a bit of a reprieve and set a few reminders for yourself.

All you have to do is let your calendar track those time-sensitive tasks.

Take a moment to enter in notes, reminders, or check-ins into your schedule.

You can complete tasks as they pop up in your digital schedule or as you turn the page on your paper planner.

Quickly complete small tasks.

Making a phone call to check an account balance, preparing an envelope for mailing, writing up a grocery list…these tasks don’t require all that much time or effort.

All the more reason to save your energy for larger, more challenging, or difficult items.

One way to do this is to complete smaller tasks as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Avoid overthinking things or weighing yourself down with thoughts about how long it will take to write a quick note, check a fact, or make a phone call.

Decide to take immediate action and just do it! 

Review what you’ve recently accomplished.

While it is important to stay focused in the present, there is value in reviewing where you’ve been.

Don’t forget, the work you’ve just completed is part and parcel of what you are trying to accomplish today, tomorrow, and in future.

Keeping this in mind, what tasks did you accomplish or complete yesterday or the day before?

Was there something you recently completed that naturally segues into your next assignment or project?

If you’re ever in doubt as to where you’re going, just remember to take a quick glance back at your past work.

You’re sure to learn a lot.

Learn How to Stay on Top of Your Work

Productivity skills are important if you want to consistently get things done at work and home.

My to do list online course will teach you how to prioritize to-dos, manage tasks, and get things done.

If you want me to show you how to manage your to-dos at work and home, then check out my productivity consulting services. Book a strategy session with me today!

How about you? What’s one project you are working on right now that you really need to stay on top of? How will you use the above tips to help you keep things in order? Join in the conversation and leave a comment below!