One of the hardest things about work is often being organised. It’s a skill that almost everyone claims that they have on their resume when they’re applying for jobs, but once you’re sitting behind that desk and trying to figure out everything that you have to do that day, those organisational skills that you cultivated in high school by colour coding your notes and adding post-its to the most important pages of your text books feel like a million miles away. If that sounds familiar, here are some tips on the best ways you can get it together at work.
Use Project Management Software
A lot of companies use project management software, and although you may not think it’s useful if you’ve never used it before, it can actually be great for helping you plan, organise and manage your work. Microsoft Project is probably the most popular option but you can look for a MS Project for Mac alternative if you use Mac computers instead of Windows in your office. If you don’t have project management software, why not suggest it in a meeting?
Make A To-Do List
Before you leave work in the evenings, make a to-do list for the next morning. It will help you through the first fug of the morning when you’re desperate for coffee, and it will also help you to relax in the evening as you’ll feel confident that you haven’t forgotten anything and that your next day is carefully planned. In the mornings, check your emails and update your to-do list accordingly. You should estimate how long each task takes so that you know how much you can fit in, and prioritise them carefully.
Don’t Get Distracted By Emails
It is so easy at work to get distracted by emails popping up in the corner of your screen or making that familiar bell chime noise as they ping into your inbox. Still, it’s important to make sure that you don’t get distracted by them when you’re in the middle of a task. Very, very few emails are important enough that they need to be replied to right away, and if you stop doing what you’re doing, chances are you’ll lose track of it when you realise that the email requires you to do something before responding. Likewise, if you don’t reply to the email straight away, it’s easy to forget to do it altogether. Close your email program, and check it when you’re finished with each task, so that you don’t multi-task unnecessarily and get confused.
Keep Your Workspace Clean
Finally, it’s always a good idea to keep your workspace clean and clutter free. It’s easier to store documents on the cloud than in a huge stack of papers in your inbox, and it may also be time to reconsider exactly how many personal items you really need on your desk. If possible, take some of them home so you can have a more clear working space, which will in turn lead to a more clear mind.
