In the workplace, many tasks can arise, begging the question of what to complete in which order. For busy days, it is important to prioritize what needs to get done, especially if you have a leadership position. No matter how big or small the task is, a lot of thought needs to go into the order of events. You need to ask yourself what is most important for that day and how you should approach it while keeping the remaining tasks in mind. As long as you progress from most important to least important, you will be knocking out these tasks at a manageable pace.
Create a Master List
Different tasks can each have a different duration. Perhaps there is one task that can be done within a day. Perhaps there is even a task that would take days to fulfill. You could even go as high as weeks or months, depending on the type of work being done. It helps to classify these tasks in a manner that reminds you of what needs more attention at the moment. Make a task list, which can be written on a piece of paper or typed out on your own device. Jot down the stuff that needs to be finished in the present and in the future, and then divide them up by daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Having these tasks documented for you to read in one place will make everything easier to organize.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix
In both a traditional workspace and a workplace, prioritization can make things a lot simpler. To ease the pressure, you should use a tool known as the Eisenhower Matrix, made by former US president Dwight Eisenhower. This has a four-quadrant box (urgent-important matrix) that helps you decide what is the most urgent task at hand and what can wait until a bit later. Tasks marked as both urgent and important must be finished the soonest. Tasks that are important but not urgent can be scheduled for a bit later. Tasks that are urgent but not important can be assigned to another person. Lastly, tasks that are neither urgent nor important should be deleted from the list altogether, with no time needed to spend on them.
Manage Anxiety
As you might expect, the potential for anxiety comes with the territory of planning and completing tasks. It should be reduced as much as possible so that it does not overwhelm you and hinder productivity. Perhaps one of the tasks on your list is something that you have never done before, and can therefore feel a bit daunting. However, you need to remember that you are capable of learning and accomplishing new goals. The key is to stay focused and review, in your mind, the steps necessary to complete each task. As long as you know your priorities, anxiety will not get the best of you.
Stay Accountable
Once you have figured out which tasks are most important, you need to choose one to complete first. Write it down and share with any team members if there are any attached to the project. Set a due date for yourself and others (if applicable) if there is not already one firmly in place. Having these due dates set in stone will further enforce just how important it is to get the task done. When working with others, it is important to check up on each other, especially if anyone appears to be lagging. Anxiety can be addressed, but you can help each other get through it all.
Prioritize Now
As long as you follow these tips, you will be able to perform tasks in an efficient order and manner. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by anything that is considered important, but you must not forget your ability to progress. After each completed task, subsequent tasks might not seem so overwhelming. You would just need to remind yourself about how much you have already gotten done in the past. Rather than sell yourself short, remember your achievements and how you were able to accomplish them. The more experience that you have, the more confident you can be in your abilities. So take each new task as an opportunity to grow.
