How do you manage your work/task list? 7

[NCCaryME]

I've tried for some time to figure out how to most efficiently manage my time and my work load. I'm typically involved in several projects at once, and my tasks range from overall management of the project to very small ("to-do") items. What do you all do to track the work you are currently responsible for, prioritize items so you are working effectively, and don't put off tasks with due dates?

I use Outlook's "Tasks" list quite a bit, which is handy for jotting things down in my phone, but I haven't figured out how to use it to handle ALL of my projects and tasks. For the remainder, I've experimented with keeping lists on a whiteboard (too temporary), MS Project (too complicated for small stuff), and most recently an Excel spreadsheet (I like this because it lets me prioritize and also archive so I can reference later for year-end reviews, etc.).

Any thoughts on organizational techniques, tools, tricks, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Murec]

Too bad the limerick only rhymes in the US
I first read it in Canuck and it started with
"The integral of zed d-zed..."

 

[GregLocock]

And it doesn't scan

Nice try tho

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[mizzjoey]

Cool limerick! But yeah, won't work well in my country too. Most people here pronounce z as zed.

But back to the whiteboard...forgot to mention that the bad thing with listing out your tasks where it's easily seen also means that the whiteboard - or piece of paper - will scream at you and make you even more stressed out as you race to cross out the items on your list...

Of course, right now I'm a junior engineer doing FEA and only have to deal with going through work requests from designers. My method might not work for engineers who need to do a lot of reports/progress reviews etc and need to have the task list in soft copy.

My to-do list on the wall only has the project numbers. For daily to-do lists, I use a hardbound notebook (don't we have a lot of those with logos of vendor companies on them?). Somehow clicking on the items in Outlook is not as satisfying as physically crossing out a task with a pen or pencil...

jo

 

[SomptingGuy]

But back to the whiteboard...forgot to mention that the bad thing with listing out your tasks where it's easily seen also means that the whiteboard - or piece of paper - will scream at you and make you even more stressed out as you race to cross out the items on your list...

I disagree totally. When I do feel stressed out I find the best thing to do is write down the tasks currently on my plate. I find it puts things into perspective.

 

[mizzjoey]

wow.. lucky you! You mean you never feel intimidated/swamped at all? Well, hopefully I will learn the tricks quickly and get to your stage soon...

jo

 

[SomptingGuy]

Why "lucky"? It's that once my number of outstanding tasks crosses a threshold it seems infinite. Writing down the list reigns it back in. I always feel swamped. It's just that I'm happier if I know how deep the swamp is.

 

[mizzjoey]

I see. By lucky I meant you must have crossed the stage where you are starting your career and trying to make sense of everything, including how to manage your tasks in a way that will please the management.

I always feel intimidated once my to-do list gets too long, or my simulations don't solve so I haven't crossed anything off the list for a long time.

 

[SomptingGuy]

I'm not that old but I have been in those "Oh my god I've got too much to do that I can't go home!!" positions before and think I have solution that works for me.

 

[EngineerDave]

I hate to say it, but I wish my task keeping endeavor would clearly illustrate the amount of work I do compared to my coworker.

There isn't enough accountability for the fact that I get done way more than him!

I guess I'll continue to vent on this (as I did in a previous thread). But it drives me nuts at times!

 

[Gymmeh]

Dave, I would tend to agree, although hopefully managment can compare the level of work and know you do more/better.