It seems we all just keep getting busier and busier and never seem to have enough time to accomplish all that we need to. As we rely more and more on technology to make our lives easier, many times it can end up doing the exact opposite. With smart phones, laptops, and tablets, it puts email, social media and work at our fingertips and we can feel the need to be “on” 24 hours a day. Many times this ends up making us feel more overwhelmed versus more productive.
One method that has helped me take back control of my to-do list and time is scheduling my tasks. This is simple, however, it has helped me on many levels. By utilizing a daily calendar to schedule everything that needs to get done, it helps me realize how much time each task takes and lets me compare it to the amount of time I have available in a day. It helps me be more accountable and prioritize my most important action items each day. And I have a feeling of accomplishment at the end of a day, rather than feeling defeated because I didn’t get to everything on my to-do list.
In a dental office, this can also be an effective strategy for the front office. While they will always have to take into account patient interruptions, by scheduling their tasks each day it can help them prioritize, focus, and avoid non-urgent distractions. They will not always be able to predict when the phone will ring or when a patient will need their undivided attention, but they can take into account those distractions as they are scheduling their tasks.
This method may not work for everyone, but it is important that team members come up with a time-management strategy that works best for them. Having a plan of attack will help ensure essential tasks are completed, which will help the overall practice productivity.
One method that has helped me take back control of my to-do list and time is scheduling my tasks. This is simple, however, it has helped me on many levels. By utilizing a daily calendar to schedule everything that needs to get done, it helps me realize how much time each task takes and lets me compare it to the amount of time I have available in a day. It helps me be more accountable and prioritize my most important action items each day. And I have a feeling of accomplishment at the end of a day, rather than feeling defeated because I didn’t get to everything on my to-do list.
In a dental office, this can also be an effective strategy for the front office. While they will always have to take into account patient interruptions, by scheduling their tasks each day it can help them prioritize, focus, and avoid non-urgent distractions. They will not always be able to predict when the phone will ring or when a patient will need their undivided attention, but they can take into account those distractions as they are scheduling their tasks.
This method may not work for everyone, but it is important that team members come up with a time-management strategy that works best for them. Having a plan of attack will help ensure essential tasks are completed, which will help the overall practice productivity.