Not enough minutes in the day? Is the plate so full you can't balance it? Are the things you put on the back burner falling off the stove? Does that stack of "to-get-to" projects look like it has had babies? You aren't alone, but there is hope...read on!
It's crunch time in education today. More to do than ever before and in most cases fewer resources to do it with. Here is what I suggest. Block off a few uninterrupted hours (probably during the weekend or before the troops arrive) and clear a table. Now, sort through your project files, notes, ideas, calendars, folders, books - whatever it is you have that represents every "live" project you are working on - short-term or long-term. If you don't have a pile or an item, use a piece of paper as a place holder. An example would be a sheet that says" November Faculty Meeting - Recognition Awards". Now prioritize everything into three rows: Immediate Deadlines, Scheduled Deadlines, Future Deadlines. Another way to say it would be Now, Soon, Later. I like to use big tables and sort my "things" in rows by the date of immediacy. I then start a new row. Dead Files. This is the honesty row where you consider the option that you may never get to a project, want to get out of a project, don't have time to complete a project, lost interest in the project, lost help to do the project, etc., etc. If this is the case put it in the Dead row. You may need some action on these items before the funeral, however, like a note telling others that this project has been terminated due to lack of staffing, resources, energy, etc.
OK, now "Target Your Time" for each row. Get your calendar out and make appointments to clear your folders from Row 1 (Immediate). For Row 2 (Scheduled), you probably have reoccurring tasks like faculty meetings, board responsibilities, Homecoming schedule, Christmas concert details - this is a high pressure row. TARGET your TIME with these items by setting deadlines and blocking space to get them done. Deadlines help you organize and set values for the work. Set them, then follow them. Row 3 contains Future Projects/Tasks and needs to be arranged according to honest evaluations with consideration for delegation, planning, brainstorming. I like to put Row 3 items on my calendar as well, unless the idea is dull, out-of-date, beyond reality, or just won't happen....in which case it lands in Row 4 - the DEAD files.
Once this bonanza of quality time organizing your "stuff" has happened it is imperative that you review and stick to your newly revised calendar and that you begin to filter your time according to your adjusted priorities.
Try this. It helps you stay focused and feel confident in what you are doing!
