One Thing at a Time

I've written before about the perils of multi-tasking (can't remember whether it was here or on another blog--one of the perils of multi-blogging. I suppose). However, Leo of Zen Habits has come up with a list of handy tips on how to manage a multitude of tasks without driving yourself nuts.

Now Do This (a tool Leo links to on his blog) is essentially a computerized version of the to-do list I keep in my Day Planner. Whatever doesn't get done that day, I transfer over to the next (or to another day that will, hopefully, work better). And I try to limit the number of big tasks I tackle in a day to one or two, if possible, so I can really focus on them. I handle the smaller tasks in bunches, usually first thing after reading my email (and I limit checking my email to two or three times during the work day, unless I know an important message is coming in soon). As for the big tasks, I break them down, step-by-step, and handle each step in turn, with an eye toward reaching benchmarks in the process by certain dates. That way, I know I'll make my deadlines with a reasonable amount of effort and diligence, without having to work myself too long and hard or worry all that much about making the deadlines.

That's how I try to handle things. What do you do to organize your work and make your deadlines without having to stay up until the wee hours at night or rise at the crack of dawn in the morning? More important, do you have a system for controlling your workload?