It’s very easy to become snowed under by your workload. To have so much on your to-do list you don’t know where to start or what to tackle next. Deadlines pass, and things get missed.
Managing your workload effectively not only helps you to keep up with demand, but it will help to increase your productivity, as well as reducing your stress levels! Here are our 6 top tips on how to effectively manage your workload.
Do a brain dump If you have lots of tasks and projects going around in your head, it’s easy to miss or forget about things. This is where a brain dump can really help. Making a list of absolutely everything that’s going on in your head will release some of the pressure, but also allows you to physically review and prioritise what needs doing. And it doesn’t just need to be business related. If you keep forgetting to book that dentist appointment or need to order a gift for someone special, add it onto the list and start to get yourself organised.
To-do list Once you have your brain dump list, you can now create a well prioritised to-do list. There are probably things on your brain dump that actually don’t need doing but have been sitting there clogging up headspace. Run through the list, get rid of anything that really doesn’t need doing and start setting deadlines. It’s also a great opportunity to review what you can delegate or outsource. If you don’t need to be the one that needs to complete it, why not pass it onto someone else and free up even more time and headspace?
Block out time Now that you have a realistic idea of what you need to do and when you need to complete things by, it’s time to block out some time in your diary to complete the tasks. The best way to keep on top of your admin is by doing it regularly. If you have a back log to get through it is going to take longer initially and can feel overwhelming with so much on your plate. If you feel overwhelmed and stressed with how much you need to get through, this is something we could help with. We can help you work through your to-do list and get you back into the driver’s seat. You can then schedule in regular time into your diary to complete the admin that you need to do.
Don’t let your inbox manage you In this digital age, it’s very easy to become consumed spending time going through your emails every day and aiming for inbox zero. But dipping in and out of emails throughout the day or every time a notification pops up is unproductive. Set aside specific times of the day that you are going to check your inbox, setting yourself a time limit and stick to it! If something is urgent, the sender will call you or flag it up. You will notice a big difference in the amount of time you spend on your emails if you focus on them at set intervals throughout the day instead of every email that pops up.
If you are getting a large amount of emails through each day, why not outsource them? Here at VASS we could check through your emails throughout the day, getting rid of the spam and rubbish, actioning anything straightforward that we could deal with and respond to, leaving you with the emails that really need your attention.
Focus on one task at a time When we’re busy it can be hard to focus on one thing at a time when we are juggling so many things at once. Starting something, jumping onto something else, or being interrupted by another thing eats away at our time. Focusing our attention to one task at a time is the key to productivity and managing your workload effectively. Get rid of any distractions, set yourself a timer and focus on one thing at a time. You will soon see that you are completing tasks at a much quicker rate than juggling multiple projects at a time.
Don’t put things off It’s all too easy to put off certain tasks and focus on the quick wins to get more things off our lists. Are you one of these people that puts off submitting their self-assessment until the last minute because you can’t face going through your accounts and receipts? Don’t keep putting things off. Tackle the projects as they come along and give them the time they need. You will have a greater sense of satisfaction and a clearer head if you tick off the more challenging tasks that you have been putting off. If it’s something you really can’t face doing, or just don’t want to, why not start outsourcing it?
If you want support to get back in control of your admin, to outsource some of the tasks that take up your time or you just don’t like doing, then call us now on 020 3890 6990 to arrange a free no obligation consultation and find out how we can help.