By Mandy Green
2 minute read
Have you ever felt overwhelmed juggling all the tasks you are responsible for in a day? I know I certainly have.
If you’re interested in enhancing your productivity and saving precious hours each week, I highly recommend adopting is a simple technique known as task batching.
Task batching simply means grouping similar tasks together (those that require the same mode of thinking) and tackling them all in one efficient block of time instead of scattered randomly throughout the day.
Here are a few quick examples:
- Instead of reacting to each email as soon as it comes in, schedule one or two dedicated moments in the day to tackle your Inbox.
- Review any new applications all at the same time.
- Could you batch all of your meetings on the same day?
- Could you do all of your administrative tasks or errands together instead of randomly spreading them out?
By batching tasks this way it will minimize the number of times you have to switch between tasks (and modes of thinking), which studies show could boost your productivity by up to 40%.
Using one of the example I mentioned, when your brain is fully in email mode, answering the next email will be much easier and faster because your brain is already in the right frame of mind. If you were to answer an email, then jump to returning a text, then work a little on a project, and then go back and answer more emails, that kind of continuous switching between different thinking modes is hard work for the brain.
If you’re ready to give it a try, start by creating a list of all the tasks you need to accomplish for the day. Next, review this list and identify which tasks can be grouped together based on their similarity in thinking mode.
Once you’ve determined which tasks can be batched together, allocate dedicated blocks of time in your schedule for each group of tasks.
An easy one to start with would be handling all your emails in the morning or scheduling your meetings in the afternoon. Over time, you can refine your batching strategy to suit your specific needs and work style.
By incorporating task batching into your daily routine you can streamline your workflow, reduce stress, and ultimately become a more efficient and productive higher education professional.