How To Keep Track Of Everything At Work
Have you noticed that workdays tend to get away from you? You sit down in the morning with a plan (or at least a general idea) and before you know it, the day’s nearly over and your to-do list hasn’t shrunk at all. You’ve done a lot - things like answering emails, calling people, being in meetings, and so on - but you’ve not got a lot done. However, with a few simple changes, it is actually possible to feel a bit more in control of it all, so keep reading to find out more.
In This Article:
4 Ways to Stay On Top of Work
Here are four ideas for staying on top of your work instead of floundering or falling behind.
Find A System That Works For You
Whether you like apps, notebooks, online planners, or just a standard calendar, the best method is the one you’ll actually use, so think about what works for you. Some people love a detailed schedule, while others prefer a looser plan with a few key tasks. It doesn’t really matter; it just has to be something that gives you a clearer picture of what’s on your plate and what can wait.
The really important part is being consistent - switching between too many tools is just going to make things more confusing, so try sticking with one or two and make them part of your daily routine.
Give Your Day A Bit Of Structure
Not everything at work can be planned down to the minute, but having a structure can make a big difference. Maybe it’s setting aside time each morning to go through your emails, or carving out an hour in the afternoon to catch up on smaller tasks, for example. Whatever it is, make sure you give yourself the space you need to focus, so you’re not always just reacting to whatever pops up next.
You don’t need to be totally rigid about it either - just giving your day a bit of structure and rhythm can help you feel more organised and less rushed, and that’s always going to lead to better work.
Stay Connected With Your Team
A lot of workplace stress comes from trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing, and if you’re waiting on updates, managing a team, juggling shared responsibilities, and so on, staying in sync with everyone involved is very important. So you’ll need to look for tools like shared calendars and project boards, as that can make a fantastic difference.
And for the bigger picture things, like time off, training, and performance tracking, systems that help you deal with it all in one place are really handy. Many businesses use HCM software to help keep things organised without needing to constantly manually input all the information, which can take a lot of time and also mean that mistakes can be made.
Try To Pause When You Can
It’s easy to fall into the habit of doing everything at once, especially when work gets busy, but if you try to keep track of everything without giving yourself any time to pause and breathe, it’s all going to start to feel very overwhelming. That’s why taking even short breaks for a few minutes to gather yourself is ideal - it’ll help clear your head and make you a lot more productive when you get back to work.
