Focus on starting tasks to break through inertia
Are you often frantic about deadlines? Perhaps you need to take a closer look at how you manage your time. You may be highly skilled and hard working but to reach peak levels of performance you need an additional skill - the ability to effectively manage the limited time at your disposal. In the present day complex work settings you are responsible for multiple tasks and, needless to say, all the deliverables are time bound. To manage multiple deadlines you must learn to s
tay organised and time conscious.
Your multitasking efficiency depends heavily on your ability to focus and prioritise activities. You must acknowledge that the time available with you is limited and therefore you have to make choices. Remember, you can’t do it all and also can’t do it all at once. When you try to juggle several tasks at the same time you become highly anxious and stress prone. Instead focus on one activity at a time. Prepare a to-do list in the order of deadlines and strictly adhere to it. Frequently refer the list to stay focused. All this sounds pretty familiar? Of course these are well known techniques but what makes them hard to practise? The many distractions, interruptions and competing priorities at office make it tough for you to stick to your schedule. You may not realise it, but your nature could be an added problem. You find meeting deadlines extremely stressful because probably you are:
A perfectionist: You consume extra time trying to be perfect in whatever you do so you often feel rushed while meeting the deadline. You may constantly worry about committing mistakes and potential criticism from your superiors. Or you may set yourself high standards that are time consuming to achieve. You take extra long to finish a task because of your uncompromising nature. However to meet deadlines at a comfortable pace focus your attention on what the task requires rather than being perfect.
A procrastinator: You have a tendency to delay everything till the last moment. You fail to start on time so meeting deadlines becomes a formidable task. If procrastination is an old habit that refuses to die, learn to procrastinate procrastination. Focussing on starting tasks helps you break through inertia and you will quickly gain momentum.
A workaholic: You feel you perform best under pressure and therefore work continuously on end. While trying to juggle several activities at once you become extremely anxious and can’t seem to get started on anything. The effective means to multitask is not to juggle but to focus on one task at a time for brief periods. Also learn to delegate tasks in ways that get the job done and also make people happy to be included in the process. Remember to cross check if the tasks are being handled properly.
A disorganised person: You hate to be known as one but in the heart of hearts you know you are a bit messy. If retrieving important documents and information is eating up too much time every day it’s time you learnt to be more organised. To avoid confusion and clutter, file each folder immediately instead of making a pile to be filed later. To stay organised devote just five minutes at the end of each day for wrapping up. Put away things you have used during the day and will not need again the next day. Create a top priority to-do list for the following day and pull out things you will need to do the same. This helps you to navigate through your day with ease. Also make it a point to remove the clutter once in a while. Periodic reorganisation of workspace is essential too. Discard unimportant papers and documents to save space and also to keep your desk clutter free.
While prioritising your tasks you must keep these points in mind. The tasks should add value to your work. They should further the objectives of your organisation. They should mesh well with the priorities and requirements of your boss. This way you can avoid expending your energy and time on unproductive tasks that lead you nowhere. When you stay focussed and organised looming deadlines will no longer overwhelm you.
N. PURNIMA SRIKRISHNA
faqs@cnkonline.com
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opportunities
