Entries Tagged as ''

Managing Our Tasks - The Key to Time Management

We have discussed our calendar and our contacts; the third area is our tasks.  This can be the hardest of all of these to gain real control of.   Much of this has to do with how record this information and how we prioritize what we do.  The task list never ends so we can find ourselves frustrated with what we accomplish or shall I say what we don’t accomplish. 

 

What we can do to remedy this is to focus on what are goals are and which of these tasks get us to that end.  Now that is easy to say, but how do we do it.  This is where we have to try to match a system to how we think and act or our willing to try to change or behavior to.  This can be a simple as a system you create, a Franklin Covey Planner (which has a great built in system), or a Planner Pad.

 

Choose a system that allows for:

1.    A list of tasks

2.    A way to review them to be able to choose the highest priorities each week

3.    The ability to schedule those prioritized tasks into our calendar

Then we must be disciplined to review the bigger picture list on a weekly basis and the daily tasks schedule for the week on a daily basis.  Getting into a routine of doing this can make a fantastic difference in what we accomplish each day!

 

Best wishes,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

 

Tags: Office, Time management by organizing atlanta
No Comments »

Our Contacts Keep Us Connected

Like our calendar we can keep a paper or electronic system for our contacts but we must choose one that works best for our needs.  We must define our needs not just for our present use but how we would like this system to accommodate our needs in the future.

In trying to decide what is best there are a few things to consider:

1.     How often does it need to be updated? 

2.    How often it is accessed?

3.    Does it need to be mobile?

4.    How many contacts do we expect to keep?

5.    What information do we need to keep for our contacts?

 

To decide on the best system these questions need to be considered.  Smaller lists of contacts can be managed with a simpler system, may not need to be with us all the time and can be a simple address book or addresses in an email system.  Larger data bases of contacts may need to be accessed often, probably need to have the ability to sync with a mobile device and are added to and updated often.  Here a system like Outlook and syncing with a Blackberry or Palm type device may be a better solution.

 

Finally when thinking about managing contacts, especially larger numbers of them.  Consider whether the system allows for sorting, the fields available to capture the data needed and also the search capability to find information.  Again Outlook 2007 provides a very good way to capture this information, sort and use it to provide a great productivity tool.

 

Keeping in contact,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: E-mail, Time management by organizing atlanta
No Comments »

The Calendar - Our Life’s Timing Chain

 

This first week we will focus on our calendar.  Whether we use a simple calendar, a planner or a Blackberry/Palm type electronic system, we need to be sure to “keep one set of books”.  When we keep multiple calendars it leaves us open to missing events and not knowing when our time is and is not available.  It is very important that we keep our calendar system current so that we have all the facts included.  Finally it is critical that we look at it routinely.  Looking at our calendar may sound like a “no brainer” but, many of us often start the morning without even knowing what we have planned for the day.

 

Things to think about in choosing between a paper and electronic system: 

1.     Is the system portable to have with you all the time?

2.     Is the system easy to update?

3.     Is the system easy to share with those who need to know what is on your schedule?

4.     Do you need to be a able to sync it to your computer?

5.    Do you want to be able to back up the information?

Keeping a good calendar will make a big difference in keeping a smooth office running.

 

Make the best of your time,

Rosanne

770.995.8556

www.dtsorganizing.com

Tags: Office, Time management by organizing atlanta
No Comments »