Office desking systems and prioritisation are at the very heart of being able to work in an effective and timely manner.
If you don’t prioritise important tasks, you’re running the risk of missing deadlines and causing all types of chaos! If you don’t have the right type of seating arrangement, the same thing will happen.
You might remember a little while ago we did a blog about prioritising, but we certainly feel it’s worth revisiting and adding more information, to help you work in a more productive manner. Remember, productivity has direct links to profits, and it all ties in with morale too; if you feel overwhelmed, you’re going to be get stressed, and stress does nothing for health or productivity.
For a quick take on how you should be approaching prioritising, we found this useful infographic by Girl Did Good.
It really highlights the simple approach you can take, which actually works wonders!
Source: http://www.girldidgood.com/how-to-prioritise-2
One interesting point form that infographic is that you shouldn’t only focus on the tasks which have the nearest deadlines in terms of prioritising, but also tasks which have been nagging at the back of your mind. When your brain is clogged up with x number of tasks to be completed, how are you supposed to be productive and focus? You can’t! It doesn’t matter if you sit and concentrate, perhaps using office screens, if you can’t concentrate properly for trying to remember a set number of things, you’re not going to be get much done.
The main difference between modern and traditional office interiors and functionalities is also the fact that we are far more technological than we have ever been. This means you can use things like productivity apps to keep you on track. Of course, that doesn’t take away the regular to do list, which is very useful when it comes to prioritising.
So, what are the main points to remember when prioritising your tasks for the day?
1. Write down everything you need to do – brain dump it all out!
2. Think about the closest deadline
3. Think about the tasks on that list which are niggling at the back of your mind
4. Number the tasks on the list, with 1 being the most important
5. Once your list is complete, cross off the items as you do them
That is the simplified version, but sometimes the most simple routes work the best! Of course, ensuring your working situation is smooth and clear will also ensure that you are more productive in general. Ensuring that you store items away from your desk, using contemporary office shelving perhaps, is a good way to have more space. A clear desk is a clear mind, after all!
Clearing your desk isn’t just about what is on it, but the way it is organised too. L shaped desks are a good idea for giving you a clear space away from your computer screen. You can then move around and do the different tasks on your priority list, without having to worry about lack of space, or losing an important piece of paper!
Play around with apps and find one to suit your needs, or simply stick to a regular piece of paper and a pen; effective prioritisation is about what works for you, but don’t forget the other attached areas too, such as your office environment and ensuring that you have plentiful space on your desk. As you tick off those items on your list you’re certain to feel a sense of achievement, and that will spur you on to complete the next task, and so on. By having the right contemporary office equipment in place at the same time, you’ll notice your morale is certainly on the up!
In many ways, prioritisation becomes addictive, because of how focused it can make you. Being in control of your workload is a wonderful feeling and when your entire workstation is personalised to your needs at the same time, you’ll feel like you’re making progress every day.
However, always remember that random urgent tasks could come in throughout the day, and throw your original prioritisation list a little off kilter. This is fine, and in many ways it is to be expected; simply rejig your prioritising around if this does happen, and in those situations, be aware that you may not get to the end of your list for that day. In that case, the tasks you don’t finish (the ones which aren’t so important) can be added onto tomorrow’s list and completed as higher priorities.
If you’re not on the prioritising bandwagon just yet, it’s time to give it a start!