Flaticon Icon This is John. He's stressed out by his first job!

He has a number of work projects due and has a side gig playing in a band with his friends. How can he stay organized and keep his cool?

With a few key strategies, John will be just fine!

A man holding a sign that says,

1. Make A List

What do you need to get done?

The act of writing it down will help you visualize your tasks, and make the workload feel less overwhelming. Give yourself small goals by breaking down larger tasks into smaller tasks.

Your list could take many forms, like:

  • A bunch of sticky notes

  • A list in your agenda

  • A Google Calendar

The most useful list is one you will actually use!

An post-it note with the words

Quiz

John really needs to keep track of his tasks. Which task would make sense to include on his list?

2. Prioritize Your Tasks

Consider:

  • What is most urgent? Do these things first.

  • What is most important? Be sure to schedule these tasks.

  • What will take the most time to complete? Break it down into smaller steps.

  • Do you need to work with others? You'll need to take their schedules into account.

A man sits at a computer. Some images from the computer screen float in front of him, and he organizes them with his hands.

John needs your help!

It's Monday and John has a marketing report he needs to complete by the end of the week. He just needs to spell-check it before he sends it off. The following Friday, his team will have to present the report to a client. They'll need to meet beforehand.

Quiz

Which task should John prioritize?

3. Schedule Breaks

Don't underestimate the value of a quality break: schedule these into your day!

A walk around the block, a quick stretch, or some deep breaths can do wonders.

Sitting at your desk all day doesn't necessarily mean you're getting work done! Consider taking a break:

  • After you complete a task

  • Once every hour

  • If you find that your focus has wandered

A watch that says,

How you schedule breaks depends on the work you're doing.For example, if you're really hitting your stride with an important task, it might not be the best time totake a break when the scheduled hour is up.

Quiz

John is composing music for his band, a process that takes a few hours. How would you recommend that he schedule his breaks?

Reward Yourself

A person holds up an ice cream cone. The text reads,

A reward could be a piece of chocolate after a productive 2 hour stretch of work, or an hour of video games after a long day.

As long as the reward is finite and keeps you motivated, do whatever works for you!

Take Action

A woman says,

What do you need to get done this week?

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