In the past I have always sort of scoffed at those little motivational messages, like “Set a timer for 5 minutes and finish your task!” Pffft. Whatever, I’ll get it done in my own time, my own way. Well, now I realize that this is actually a very effective way to get a lot done in a short period of time. But because very little on my task list can be done in 5 minutes, my timer is set at around 3 hours. This happens to coincide with how long little Eva sleeps! After I get her comfortably and 100% sleeping, the timer begins.
My typical day involves checking email, updating the project schedule, making sure all our employees have questions answered and a work agenda for the day, lunch, more emails, maybe some design and/or brainstorming, and if I absolutely have nothing else to do, dreaded paperwork. Paperwork includes payroll, retirement contributions, organizing papers for filing, budgeting, taxes, bills (ick!) and anything that requires a call to customer service (double ick!). This is usually the very last thing on my agenda. Of all the hats I wear in the office, the finance manager role is my least favorite. But alas, the work still needs to be done and as much as I may dread it or procrastinate, typically it’s just faster if I do it instead of delegating. If we hit it big, this will likely be the first position I hire for!
So today Eva and I decided to take our second field trip to the office (she is now 2 weeks old, so it’s only natural that we get a jump start on her work ethic). We arrived, I fed her, and my invisible timer was set at 3 hours. I had not factored in my employees randomly stumbling into my office to hold, coo and nudge the baby though, so my 3 hour window was more like 3 one-hour windows as I tended to Eva between interruptions.
Interruptions aside, I was able to tick all items off my checklist, including all the dreaded paperwork, an employee review, my usual work emails and checking in with my work peeps… because I know they miss my face.
Knowing that I had a limited window of time and having a clear to-do list, I was able to blow through the day’s work in just a few hours, where during a normal work week being at the office every day all day, it may have taken me all week or more to actually get around to doing everything.
The moral of the story is:
1. Make a list
2. Set a timer (or goal)
3. Get it done
4. Go outside and enjoy the rest the day!
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Recommended for managing your to-do list: http://tadalist.com/
