202-601-3940Make Monday a “Prep work” Day: Use Monday as your preparation day to lay out tasks for the week. I like to review and modify my to-do list to fly through the tasks for the week. I like to start with smaller projects and research in order to ease into the workweek and get motivated for the larger tasks on my plate so I can dive into them with grit and determination.
Set Time Limits on Projects: Block off time on your calendar to work on the projects that require your deep attention. Turn off the ringer on your phone and let your co-workers know you are working on a project and kindly ask them to give you uninterrupted time to work on your project.
Make it a Rule to Prepare These 4 Things Before Going to Bed.
Lay out your clothes for the following day. Are you going to a meeting? Hitting the gym before work? Just working at home (you still should be getting dressed like the boss you are)? I find I lose valuable time in the morning doing everything from looking for one half of a pair of shoes to discovering clothes were in the dryer instead of my closet.
Prepare your lunch (or everything you need to make it). Doing this means you save an hour potentially (grabbing a fast food lunch is not okay) of lunchtime prep. You can also be sure you’re fueling your body properly with healthy and nutritious food that will sustain and fuel you throughout the day.
Pack your bag for meetings or tasks you have the next day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left a charger, file, or paperwork sitting on my kitchen table. Valuable time is lost going back to get it or not having it at all.
Get your desk in shape. There is nothing like walking into an office to a desk that is in order and laid out for the day ahead of you. Valuable time is wasted rummaging through a messy desk trying to find notes and files. Spend a few minutes at the end of each day putting things where they belong. Think about the next day’s obligations and what you need for them and have it all good before you end the day. You’ll not only save time, but you will feel awesome when you arrive at work and your desk looks so inviting and ready for success.
Group Your Similar Tasks Together: Going back and forth between projects and answering emails is a time suck and cuts off the flow of the project. We have been trained to answer emails and other forms of communication to the detriment of our own important work.
Group similar tasks together in batches and do them at the same time. “Chunk out time” to answer emails, set an hour to do your paperwork, and return phone calls. One of the keys to adding more hours back into your day and saving time is to perfect your workflow, and this is a great way to begin that habit! By setting up these boundaries you can help to make your day run more smoothly just as how a boundary dispute lawyer from our firm would do so for territorial and zoning issues. Good small habits can turn into large and good habits.
Submitted by Audrey Blomquist, Paralegal
