8 Tips to Effectively Prioritise your Workload

Ever struggle with your workload and procrastinate for too long thinking about the long list of work you have to complete, wasting your time and energy? Working effectively is important, particularly as a teacher when you feel there aren’t enough hours in the day.  

Below are 8 tips to improve your time management, increase your productivity and prioritise your workload efficiently.

1) Make a to-do list

Ever write down a task that you have already completed just to cross it off? We are all probably good at writing lists, but it is how you rank tasks according to importance that will help ensure you complete them. At the beginning of each day or week, create a to-do list that reflects what you want to get done. Try and set realistic expectations/goals too so you avoid disappointment if you haven’t completed your tasks by the time you set. Did you know, paper based to-do lists are still preferred by many people simply because the feeling of physically crossing something off their list that is so enjoyable?

2) Regularly review your workload

I need to review my to-do lists more often as there is normally one or two tasks that get lost at the bottom and this is why regularly reviewing your list is so important. If you find you are putting off a task each time, perhaps delegate the job to someone else? By regularly reviewing your workload, you’ll likely tick off several completed list items, giving you that feeling of accomplishment. Here’s an article on why checking things off your list feels good and why it motivates you to do more. 

3) Concentrate on the most crucial

Follow the 80:20 rule of workloads; 80 per cent of our work contributes less than 20 per cent of its value, so focus on the most important 20 per cent in order to complete the most crucial tasks. This should increase your performance at work as the most important jobs are complete. Then, you will more likely feel less pressured with the less important tasks.

4) Set realistic deadlines

It is important to accurately estimate the time each task will take you to do in order to achieve and gain that sense of satisfaction at the end of your working day. If you are too optimistic, this will only lead to disappointment. 

5) Allow time for interruptions

This may be difficult to allow for as you don’t know how many interruptions you will have but if you are likely to have some during a particular time of day then do the more urgent work during the times you are less likely to get interrupted. That way you can focus better and complete the tasks quicker, without having to break away from them when someone knocks on your classroom door!

6) Structure your workload

It is best to deal with each item on your list one at a time so you don’t chop and change between different tasks. Of course, sometimes we just can’t help but multitask however by structuring your workload better focussing on each task separately, this will help you complete your list more efficiently without your mind wandering.

7) Don’t let your inbox drive your workload

Allocate a time to check your inbox to avoid interruptions each time you receive an email. It may help to turn your email notifications off if you receive several throughout the day. That way, you will be interrupted less and able to complete your to-do list more efficiently and teach your class!

8) Keep a log of your work

By keeping a log of your work, you will learn how long each task you do takes which will help when you plan your week ahead, especially when setting realistic time scales for your all-important to-do list.

Source:

http://www.icaew.com/en/archive/library/subject-gateways/business-management/strategy-and-planning/small-business-update/10-ways-to-prioritise-your-workload 

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