A fantastic way of getting through your to-do list and building an approachable and manageable one is to body double with a colleague.
A to-do list can be an essential part of your day, both when it comes to your work and personal life. Being able to see clearly what you need to do gives you a better idea of how to schedule your day and gives you the best chance of achieving your goals. Here we take a look at six simple ways that you can ensure your to-do list works for you.
Streamline physical lists
If you usually write every to-do list down physically, it’s time to streamline. There are some incredible software options if you want to take your lists online, such as workflow management systems that can allow you to keep your to-do list in a shared space. Keeping physical lists in one place or even using a whiteboard can allow you to see your list easily at all times. On a company-wide scale, a gemba walk checklist would help in knowledge sharing by organising and evaluating the company’s workflow.
Group tasks by urgency and importance
Take the time to assess your to-do list and figure out what is actually urgent (time-sensitive and requiring immediate focus) and what is simply important. Urgent and important tasks should be completed first, and then work on urgent tasks which are not as important. Leave tasks that are not urgent or particularly important until later. A risk management software can help with this for your organisation.
Body double with a colleague
A fantastic way of getting through your to-do list and building an approachable and manageable one is to body double with a colleague. You can check in with someone else on your team, and work on tasks alongside each other. Asking for another set of eyes on your to-do list can help you see when tasks can be broken down.
Try context switching
Another creative way to group the items on your to-do lists can help you to focus more effectively. Find tasks that fit into the same “context” or utilize the same skill set so that you aren’t having to juggle very different projects or types of work. For example, you might want to assign a large chunk of time to admin tasks, and then a separate part of your day can be devoted to speaking to clients.
Use the pomodoro method
If you are really struggling to get your to-do list done, try the pomodoro method. This is a focus and time management strategy used to encourage you to address your work in short, manageable bursts. It is named for the tomato-shaped kitchen timer, and the idea is that you take a task and set a timer, working on it for ten or twenty minutes at a time before allowing yourself to take a break and assess your progress.
Don’t be afraid to share the load
As we previously mentioned, you can share your to-do list with others on your team in order to share accountability and overview. However, if you find that your to-do list is completely unmanageable, delegation can be a great way of getting back on top, especially when it comes to those urgent tasks.
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