How I Keep Things Moving Merrily Along
I’ve been a little busy lately. I have so many projects that I want to tackle and I feel my head is a swimming a little.
I’ve experimented with setting directions as opposed to specific goals. I found it didn’t work so well for me. While I know what direction I’m heading and where I’d like to eventually end up I find I’m completely inefficient and get a lot less done than normal. It probably takes me twice as long to accomplish things than if I had set out specific goals and deliverables.
So how do I keep track of 5-6 roles or responsibilities and keep things moving along at a decent pace? A task grid.
Here’s an example:
This is the easiest way for me to see at a glance everything I have going on. I leave enough space between projects so I can add new tasks as they come up. It’s easy enough to delete tasks or cross them out as I complete them.
I try not to take a specific project all the way through to completion. A lot of time what I set out to do initially changes course several times before I actually finish it. I would likely be spending more time keeping my list up to date than actually doing the work.
I keep the 2-3 tasks or ideas in each project and as they’re completed I remove them and add the next 2-3 tasks to keep the projects moving along.
I like to keep mine on a physical piece of paper so I can refer to it whether I’m on the computer or not. But you can choose to keep it online, on a white board, in a calendar or stuck to your fridge.
This is a new system for me that I’m experimenting with. So far it’s working really well and I’m able to keep track of a lot of things and keep them all advancing as well.
Now I know I’m not alone in having a ton of things to do and keep track of so what system do you use? How do you keep track of all your projects and various tasks? Please share your ideas in the comments.
See also:
A Legend For Mind Maps – Keeping It Short And Sweet
Getting Things Done – Keeping It Short And Sweet
A Personal Mid-Year Review: How Are YOU Doing?
Photo courtesy of: anselm23
11 Responses to “How I Keep Things Moving Merrily Along”
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Love it! I could totally see a grid like that on a dry erase board right next to our calendar!
I’ve been enjoying your blog since I’ve been visiting over the last several weeks! I left you an award on my blog over the weekend.
So, are those tasks real life do-to’s for you? If so, how do you go about finding new contributors for ZFH?
Oh this is so useful!
I think I could really do with trying something like this right now. I have scraps of paper everywhere and notebooks filling up with notes that need to be implemented. Thanks for the ideas!
My system is very simple, I just write the task in my iGoogle To-do List and that is all. It helps me keep on track, and since I try to get only in some projects, I have archived some balance.
Of course I do understand that you have more things to do and more responsibilities, your system looks great indeed and I will give it a try, it looks easy to do.
Thanks for sharing!
Alejandro Reyes´s last blog ..What Alice taught me…
Sherry,
I saw your kids “to-do” list. I have 2 kids few years and 1 month apart so i try to schedule both kid’s yearly appointment together, so save time, and it is okay with my doctor’s office too.
Other website related stuff is something I am working on it too. I have heard of some software that keeps track of all things to do, but I am more handwriting girl, so far it is working as fast as I am moving
By the way, I would interested in guest posting for ZFH or here, although this would be my first attempt, so do not know what is proper way of asking? let me know. If you want to check out my writing, please check out my blog Heart and Mind here. Thanks.
Zengirl @ Happy Heart and Mind´s last blog ..5 ways of overcoming your fear
What a great idea! As a working mother and corporate project manager, I’ve tried every organizing system known to mankind. From pre-printed planner books to handwritten notes on a legal pad, different systems have worked at different stages in my life. At the moment, I use RememberTheMilk.com for my To Do’s, an online customizable task list I can access from anywhere (including my iPhone… essential!) It’s great for managing deadlines, multiple priorities, and storing details. But for high level brainstorming, idea cultivation, and project balancing, I need something else. I’ll give your grid a try. Thanks!
I like this system, I might try it. For me, keeping notes throughout the day is a must. I write mine on Post-It notes and tackle first things first.
You’re awesome, Sherri. Love to see how you go about making the world a better place.
This is an area I fail at again and again. My ADHD doesn’t help at all. I’m going to do what you suggest here and see if it helps. It looks simple enough. I’ll let you know what happens.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Bold Solutions For A New World
Hello Sherri,
I totally agree that head kind of spins when we have a lot to do and we all have been equally given 24 hrs a day to complete, assign, postpone or cancel the tasks.
This tracker system is good a one surely will try if I am unable to be on top of things with my style calendar.
I have a sketch book in which I have created to track the tasks as storing the information in PDA or a calendar was not working for me. I take a good look at it every morning so that I know what needs to be done by the end of the day and on the weekends I plan ahead also.
Personal Calendar did not work out well for me so I started this tracking method and it is working for me.
Cheers,
Cheryl
Cheryl Paris´s last blog ..6 Easy Tips To Keep Your Fears From Holding YOU Back – Discover Your Talents Now!
Hi Sherri, I think your task grid is a wonderful visual way of seeing it all. That looks really useful! I am also a mom of 2, work from home mother, freelancer and creative business on the side. I keep my to do list all in one doc and set out 5-10 goals per month to work on(excluding my full time job – that has a list all it’s own!) Although my system has been working I really like the “take a glance” ease of your system. Thanks for sharing!
Good on you for setting it all out like that. I am a visual person, so that would be perfect for me! Plus it would feel so good to cross things off your list!
Cool! I like the quick at a glance view.
I also really like that it’s sort of self policing. A digital todo list can stretch forever, but if you put too many projects horizontally on a task grid, it becomes obvious quickly whether you’re stretching yourself thin. 5-6 is probably a heavy but manageable load of projects, and if it gets too far beyond that (say 20 or 30 projects) just LOOKING at it is a quick way to see that it’s too much!
Sid Savara´s last blog ..Conversation Hacking – How To Make Small Talk Work For You