Mastering the Mini-Task
The need for a different approach to my time management became very clear to me once I began staying at home with young children. I wrote before about finding a rhythm to my day. Another effective technique I use is called Mini-Tasking.
Let’s say I have the following on my to-do list:
1. Return alarm clock for exchange
It seems like a straightforward task, but something like this can stay on my to-do list for weeks. I’m much more likely to get this task done if I mini-task it and write it like this:
1. Return alarm clock for exchange
- Get phone number for clock company
- Call to inquire about exchange policy
- Get all needed info (codes, address)
- Package clock for mailing
- Bring to post office
Writing it like this helps for two important reasons
A. It helps me BEGIN. By clearly identifying the first mini step I need to take I am much more likely to move forward on it.
B. I can use small spaces of time that open up effectively. Being home with little kids makes the time I have available to keep the house running unpredictable. I may not get the whole thing done in one sitting, but I can chip away at it with little snippets of time.
How do you deal with tasks that seem to stay week after week on your to-do list?
Leave a Reply to Amanda @ Mommy’s Idea Book Cancel reply